Early Hollow Folger Golden Plover Decoy, Folger Family

Lot 363

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 Winter Sale 2023, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2023, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 25, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-02-25 10:00:00 2023-02-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2023, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2023-day-2-11942 Lots 338-657 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Early Hollow Folger Golden Plover
Folger Family
Nantucket, MA, c. 1840
11 in. long

"Nantucket decoys are hard to come by and historically they are of great interest. Since they were used for relatively short periods of time each year, they were handed down from generation to generation." - William J. Mackey Jr, "American Bird Decoys"

"To me," wrote Donal C. O'Brien Jr., "these are the greatest of all the Nantucket Golden Plovers; very early 1800s." Indeed, this decoy and the very small number of birds by the maker are among the island's most coveted decoys. Donal O'Brien collected two rigmates and a few related examples with raised wing tips (see lot 366). Donal acquired some of his directly from Franklin Folger Webster (1895-1980), one of which was his first pick from the Webster Collection. Only one example of these early Folgers has surfaced outside of the O'Brien Collections.

Beyond the rarity at auction and provenance of this feather-weight carving, Donal O'Brien noted his belief that the Nantucket makers influenced A. Elmer Crowell and that Adele Earnest thought so as well. This stands the test of reason as a vast majority of the Nantucket decoys predate the work of Crowell and we know of at least one rig of Nantucket decoys that Crowell repainted prior to 1900. Earlier than Cobbs, the shorebirds of Nantucket rank up there with the top carvings of all time.

This hollowed decoy has refined lines, a full breast, and carved raised wings which resolve alongside the thin tail. It was finished with high-contrast plumage, including colorful red spots on the back.

Given their age, provenance, and style, the best attributions are to Franklin Folger Webster's forefathers three and four generations prior: William Folger (1785-1865) or his son, Franklin Folger Sr. (1815-1865). Two birds by this Folger maker can be seen in the "Nantucket Island No. 2" plate of Mackey and Weiler's "Classic Shorebird Decoys." In the "No. 1" Nantucket spread, Weiler illustrates and Mackey discusses a Folger rig "...bandolier of sorts that protected [the hunter's] cherished stools as he toted them to and from his shooting grounds." The well-preserved condition of this 19th-century carvings can in part be attributed to the Folger family's protective measures.
Original paint with light gunning wear.

Provenance: Franklin Folger Webster Collection
Allan "Rocket" Royal Collection, acquired from the above
Stephen B. O'Brien Sr. Collection, acquired from the above in 1975

Literature: Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 16, related examples illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 76, Nantucket decoys discussed. Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, pp. 218-219, early Crowell plover 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.
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