Early and Exceptional Three-Piece Mallard Decoy by Charles H. Perdew (1874-1963)

Lot 289

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 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

View Full Catalog (206)

Lot Description

Early and Exceptional Three-Piece Mallard
Charles H. Perdew (1874-1963) and
Edna Perdew (1882-1974) Henry, IL
17 in. long

This decoy was a rig-find by the Proudfoot family and is one of the finest Perdew mallards known to exist. The sharp V-hull of the deep three-piece body shows the influence of Charlie's mentor and the region's earliest icon, Henry Ruggles (1830-1897). According to Edna Perdew, her husband began making decoys in his mid-teens, about 1890. She states, "At that time he worked with a Mr. Henry Ruggles who was a decorator and decoy maker. He was very fond of Mr. Ruggles and still has a pair of quail mounted by him." In addition to being skilled carpenters and artisans, Ruggles’ and Perdew’s relationship was furthered as both were accomplished sportsmen and talented musicians.

The decoy features the Perdews’ early “pencil-style” molded weight. Illustrating the rarity of good early mallards, a repainted example from the collection of Henry Thomas is featured in the Perdew book opposite a Ruggles example.

One of the only finer Perdew mallard drakes is featured on the front dust-jacket cover of Ann Tandy Lacy's "Perdew: An Illinois River Tradition" monograph and resides in the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s Center For American Decoys. While the sophistication and paint of that example are unmatched, the Proudfoot mallard is one of the best Perdew gunning decoys to ever come on the market.
Outstanding original paint by Edna Perdew with moderate even gunning wear and original knot in breast.

Provenance: Paul Proudfoot Collection
Private Collection, by descent from the above

Literature: Tandy Lacy, “The Wooden Bird: Heritage Bird Carvers of the Upper Illinois River Valley,” Washburn, IL, 1989, pp. 117-119, and front dust-jacket cover, related examples illustrated and discussed.

Condition

Please refer to the description; if you have questions, email colin@copleyart.com.
Shipping Info
- Shipping info
  
  Copley does not offer in-house packing or shipping. For clients who require shipping, please complete the Shipping Release Form and return it with your payment. The form includes a list of shippers we frequently work with.