Climbing Wood Duck by Gilbert J. Maggioni (1921-2001)

Lot 310

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 2024, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2024, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 12, 2024

Set Reminder 2024-07-12 10:00:00 2024-07-12 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2024, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2024-day-2-16090 Lots 254-459 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Climbing Wood Duck
Gilbert J. Maggioni (1921-2001)
Beaufort, SC, 1970
17 1/4 in. tall, 22 in. long

"[Gilbert Maggioni] passed his legacy to two young men, William Rhett of Beaufort and Grainger McKoy of Sumter. Both had college degrees but that did not matter. He set them to work in the oyster factory—without pay—and after ten to twelve grueling hours, he would consent to letting them look over his shoulder. 'Be true to the bird, be true to the bird,' was his oft repeated mantra." -Roger Pinckney, "Sporting Classics"

Gilbert Maggioni was one of the most influential decorative bird carvers to follow A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952). The Ward Foundation relays that "During the later 1960s Gilbert Maggioni, a trained artist, brought new ideas and techniques to carving. He introduced the ideas of positive and negative space to his work, as well as allowing the 'environment' of his birds to be included in the piece. Before Maggioni introduced these ideas a piece was judged based on the artist’s painting and carving abilities; however, after the entire composition of the piece was judged as a whole."

True to Maggioni's mantra, this life-size decorative wood duck is mounted in motion, climbing down a branch, and exhibits finely incised feather detail. Signed and dated on underside of right wing tip.
As found.

Provenance: Evelyn Thayer Chace Collection, acquired from the artist
Private Collection, by descent from the above

Literature: Roger Pinckney, “True to the Bird: An Oysterman’s Sporting Legacy,” Sporting Classics Daily, Oct 8, 2020. “Gilbert Maggioni,” The Ward Foundation website, May 2024.

Condition

As found.
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