Early High-Head Pintail Drake Decoy, John English (1848-1915)

About Auction

Live

The Winter Sale 2022, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Mar 4, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-03-04 10:00:00 2022-03-04 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2022, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2022-day-1-8719
Lots 1-264 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (263)

• Lot Description
  Early High-Head Pintail Drake
  John English (1848-1915)
  Florence, NJ, c. 1880
  16 in. long
  
  English’s eminence as the "father" of the Delaware River school of carving is documented by virtually every authority from the region. Robert “Bob” White describes English as “the ultimate Delaware River carver.” Author Kenneth L. Gosner notes, “The work of John English set a standard against which other Delaware River makers have been measured and compared ever since. Indeed, for many collectors, the English style is the Delaware River style.”
  
  English was in complete command of his artistry when creating this hollow decoy, which exhibits refined features, from the thin bill and high neck to the precise raised wing-tip carving that marks the region’s style. This early work is one of the few English decoys that relates closely to the Delaware River’s masterwork, the O’Brien English pintail, which holds the regional record at $246,000.
  
  The underside bears a "J.D. PERKINS” brand which is partly obscured by a lead pad weight. The Perkins rig is know for having included a number of English’s best surviving forms.
  Early working paint with even gunning wear, a upper neck crack, and chipped tail.
  
  Provenance: J.D. Perkins Rig
  Jim Stokes Rig
  Peter Bartlett Collection
  Private Collection, Washington State
  
  Literature: Harrison H. Huster and Doug Knight, "Floating Sculptures: The Decoys of the Delaware River," Spanish Fork, UT, 1982, p. 61, related low-head example illustrated. Guyette, Schmidt & Deeter, "North American Decoys at Auction,” St. Charles, IL, 2013, lot 563, exact decoy illustrated. Allen Linkchorst, “John English,” Decoy Magazine, March/April 2000, front cover and pp. 8-12, O'Brien English pintail 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

  • 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.