Exceedingly Rare Feeding Pintail Decoy by John G. Tornberg (1902-1971)

Lot 58

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 2024, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2024, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 23, 2024

Set Reminder 2024-02-23 10:00:00 2024-02-23 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2024, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2024-day-1-14595 Lots 1-238 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Exceedingly Rare Feeding Pintail
John G. Tornberg (1902-1971)
Mill Valley, CA, c. 1948
19 in. long

This decoy is an exciting new discovery to the decoy marketplace. According to Miller and Hanson in "Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast," "The most collectible decoys from the San Francisco Bay area are those that were carved by the yachtsman John Tornberg of San Francisco. Tornberg used a sophisticated chip carving technique with gouges and chisels to achieve a richly textured surface and a subtle life-like appearance. These hollow, redwood pintails and shovelers are eagerly sought by all discerning West Coast collectors." Beyond the west coast, collectors nationwide were introduced to Tornberg via Dr. James McCleery's feeding pintail rigmate to this lot. This decoy displays the exact same paint treatment as the McCleery example, with this example retaining its original weight.

Carved in a feeding position with an extended neck, this hollow pintail decoy exhibits stellar form and sophisticated carved surface treatments, including a combination of flat and gouged chip carving and rasping. This carving is one of only five or six feeding pintails known to have been carved by Tornberg, who expertly captured the animated posture of a live feeding bird. The underside retains the maker's distinct custom weight which includes an anchor line ring.
Excellent original paint with even gunning wear and working touch-up to black by Tornberg. Reset crack in neck.

Provenance: John Tornberg Rig
Private Collection, Oregon, acquired directly from Mrs. Tornberg

Literature: Michael R. Miller and Frederick W. Hanson, "Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast," Davis, CA, 1986, pp. 198-199 and 204, rigmate pictured.
Sotheby's and Guyette & Schmidt, "American Waterfowl Decoys: The Distinguished Collection of Dr. James M. McCleery," New York, NY, 2000, lot 16, rigmate illustrated.
Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, pp. 116-117, rigmate 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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