Broadbill Pair, The Ward Brothers

Lot 70

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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About Auction

The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 14, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-07-14 10:00:00 2022-07-14 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2022-day-1-9460 Lots 1-332 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Broadbill Pair
The Ward Brothers
Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976)
Crisfield, MD, c. 1935
15 1/2 in. long

A classic rigmate pair with large bodies that relate to their early hump-back model. Both decoys are signed and dated by Lem and Steve Ward, have a conjoined "MK" brand, and Kramer Collection ink stamps on the bottom. This exact pair of decoys was selected by artist Paul Schertz for his painting of the Ward Brothers and their decoys. They are illustrated in the lower left corner of Schertz's painting, which was reproduced and sold as a print.
Original paint with even gunning wear, drake has remnants of working paint on head, bill, and breast.

Provenance: Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection
Private Collection, Maryland
Private Collection

Literature: Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Plano, TX, 1989, p. 46, pl. 38, similar decoys illustrated. Paul W. Schertz, Ward Brothers print, 1978, exact decoys illustrated.

Condition

Please email condition report requests to colin@copleyart.com. 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
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