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THBFeeding Yellowlegs, A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
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
LiveFeb 15, 2020
Charleston Marriott, 170 Lockwood Blvd., Charleston, SC 29403 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
View Full Catalog (533)
- Lot Description
Feeding Yellowlegs
A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
East Harwich, MA, c. 1930
9 in. long
The deep feeding position of this decorative is exceedingly rare as most of Crowell's yellowlegs are seen in preening, raised-wing, or straight-head positions. The feather blending is among the best of any of the maker's shorebird carvings. The finely crafted legs and feet are resting on a contoured carved rock base. The carving is signed in ink on the underside "A. E. Crowell, Cape Cod/The bird man/With my best wishes to Hickey" and struck with his rectangular stamp. Collectors' reverence for this rarely seen posture in carvings made by Crowell is evident, with the top two all-time results for the maker's shorebirds held by birds with similar feeding poses. This decorative has been well documented since coming to market in one of the earliest decoy auctions, a 1971 Richard Bourne sale where it was the top lot, commanding $2,400. Nine years later, it was featured in the Philadelphia Wildfowl Exposition catalog alongside the O'Brien-Mackey Wheeler Goose, Doherty-McCleery Bunn/Bowman Curlew, and Rockefeller Cape May Merganser pair. This iconic feeder was next featured on the front cover of the stand-alone John S. du Mont Collection catalog by Northeast Auctions in 2007.
The combination of form, paint, condition, and provenance place this among the maker's most desirable shorebird decoratives.
In excellent original paint with minimal wear.
Provenance: William Hickey Collection
John S. du Mont Collection
Private Collection, Connecticut
Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, pp. 212, 218, 225, 229, and back end-leaf, related examples illustrated.
Northeast Auctions, “The John S. du Mont Collection,” Portsmouth, NH, August 2007, front cover and lot 715, exact carving illustrated.
Stephen B. O’Brien Jr. “Select Carvings by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952),” Boston, MA, 2008, no. 5, exact carving illustrated.
Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Rare American Bird Decoys, Bird Carvings, and Related Items," Hyannis, MA, 1971, lot 266, exact decoy illustrated.
Jackson Parker, “Philadelphia Wildfowl Exposition,” Philadelphia, PA, 1980, p. 3, exact carving illustrated.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.Condition
- Shipping Info
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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. Please email info@copleyart.com for a shipping form. Please be aware that internet bidders may NOT not pick up their items at the sale. Items will be available for pick up by appointment or by shippers five days after the sale.
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