Black Duck, Nathan F. Cobb, Jr. (1825-1905)

Lot 38

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

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$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

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Lot Description

Black Duck
Nathan F. Cobb, Jr. (1825-1905)
Cobb Island, VA, c. 1880
15 1/2 in. long

In "American Bird Decoys," William J. Mackey, Jr. proclaims that "[the Cobbs] were determined to produce the best decoys possible, and their work excellently served the needs of both the nineteenth-century hunter and the modern collector.”

This hollow black duck with an inletted head is one of the finest Cobb Island ducks known. In addition to Cobb's standard eye-groove carving and classic tail cut, this bold model features a well-proportioned and full body, and a pronounced breast that rises upward under the bill.

The underside bears Nathan Cobb, Jr.'s incised, and reversed, "N" and the Mackey Collection ink stamp. It is rare that decoy carvers are regarded for their signatures; however, in his passionate account of the Cobbs, Mackey notes that "the skill and artistry with which the initials are carved indicate the dedication and talent that Nathan Cobb lavished on his work."

In 1893, low-lying Cobb Island was washed over and largely wrecked by the sea. This was the first of several catastrophic storms that contributed to the rarity of Cobb decoys.
Excellent original paint with gunning wear, including rub on back, age line in top of head, and touch-up at left base of bill and two points of inlay seam.

Provenance: Nathan F. Cobb, Jr. Rig
William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection

Literature: William J. Mackey, Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 152.

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.
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