Early Swan Decoy, R. Madison Mitchell (1901-1993)

Lot 408

About Seller

20 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
United States

Founded in 2005, Copley Fine Art Auctions is a boutique auction house specializing in antique decoys and American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Over the course of the last two decades, the firm has set auction records for not only individual decoy makers, but also entire carving regions. Copley...Read more

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About Auction

The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 15, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-07-15 10:00:00 2022-07-15 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2022-day-2-9461 Lots 333-676 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Early Swan
R. Madison Mitchell (1901-1993)
Havre de Grace, MD, c. 1936
28 in. long, 24 in. tall

A classic Upper Bay working swan decoy with an extensive exhibition history. The underside has a fixed weighted wooden keel, which is rare for these decoys. The bird was returned to Mitchell for his signature, which is on the underside.

In the 1990s, this decoy was recorded in exhibitions at two of Maryland's cultural institutions.
Old working paint with moderate gunning wear. Two cracks above upper neck seam and age lines in body.

Provenance: Austin M. Taliaferro Collection
Michael Boxer Collection

Literature: Maryland Historical Society, "Chesapeake Wildfowl Hunting: Maryland's Finest Decoys," Baltimore, MD, 1991, item # 36, exact decoy illustrated. Exhibited: Baltimore, MD, Maryland Historical Society, "Chesapeake Wildfowl Hunting: Maryland's Finest Decoys," September 27, 1991- February 2, 1992. St. Michaels, MD, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 1994-1995.

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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