Black Duck, Benjamin D. Smith (1866-1946)

Lot 8

About Seller

65 Sharp Street
Hingham, MA 02043
United States

Copley Fine Art Auctions is the world's leading American sporting art auction company. Located in Hingham, MA, Copley specializes in antique decoys and 19th- and 20th-century American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Principal Stephen O'Brien Jr., a fourth-generation sportsman with a refined colle...Read more

Bid Increments

Price	Bid Increment
$0	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,500	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$25,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000

About Auction

The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 19, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-07-19 13:00:00 2018-07-19 13:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2018-day-1-3286 On July 19, Copley Fine Art Auctions will lead off their annual Sporting Sale with 140 lots from the Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys. On July 20 Copley will present an additional 425 lots of decoys, fish carvings, and sporting art. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (140)

Lot Description

Black Duck
Benjamin D. Smith (1866-1946)
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA, c. 1890
17 1/2 in. long

This decoy ranks as one of the top black duck decoys from the region. It is prominently featured in Stanley Murphy's 1978 book "Martha's Vineyard Decoys."

Very few Smith or Vineyard birds survive in original paint. Decoys from the Island were often heavily gunned due to the long gunning seasons afforded by the relatively temperate climate and brackish waters.

This decoy has also been attributed to fellow Martha's Vineyard carver Benjamin W. Pease (1866-1938). The bottom of the decoy bears a "J.P." stamp in the lead weight.

In "Martha's Vineyard Decoys," Stanley Murphy discusses Benjamin Smith: "Most of the great names of American decoy carving were professionals each of whose lifetime production amounted to hundreds and even thousands of examples. Their work was appreciated in their own time and they had many incentives to improve technique and refine style over a long period. Smith, on the other hand, was a loner who made his decoys for the ducks only, not for men, yet his carvings are a distillation of great natural talent, the keenest powers of observation, and superb technique."
Original paint with gunning wear, an age line on right wing, and repair to small tail chip.

Provenance: Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection

Literature: Stanley Murphy, "Martha's Vineyard Decoys," Boston, MA, 1978, pp. 103, 136, pl. 113, exact decoy illustrated.

Condition

Condition report requests can be made via email or by telephone (info@copleyart.com or 617.536.0030). Any condition statement given is a courtesy to customers, Copley will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition.
Shipping Info
- Shipping info
  
  Copley Fine Art Auctions does not handle the shipping of any items. Shipping is the sole responsibility of the buyer. Once your payment has cleared, and we have received your authorized shipping release form items may be released for shipment. Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC shall have no liability for any loss or damage to such items. Buyers should allow up to four weeks for shipment.
  
  PLEASE BE AWARE THAT INTERNET BIDDERS MAY NOT PICK UP THEIR ITEMS AT THE SALE SITE. ITEMS CAN BE PICKED UP BY APPOINTMENT OR SHIPPED STARTING FIVE DAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE SALE