Flying Brant, Ben Maxwell (1879-1954)

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The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 19, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-07-19 13:00:00 2018-07-19 13:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2018-day-1-3286
On July 19, Copley Fine Art Auctions will lead off their annual Sporting Sale with 140 lots from the Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys. On July 20 Copley will present an additional 425 lots of decoys, fish carvings, and sporting art. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (140)

• Lot Description
  Flying Brant
  Ben Maxwell (1879-1954)
  Wading River, NJ, c. 1900
  32 1/2 in. long, 28 1/2 in. wingspan
  
  Early collectors, such as William J. Mackey, Jr., attributed these exceptional and rare brant to Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) of Tuckerton, New Jersey, because of their fine craftsmanship and close resemblance.
  
  This long-reaching body is perhaps the most rare of Jersey brant and has two canvas-over-wire wings attached. This decoy is out of a rig commissioned by the market gunner Delane Doughty of Leeds Point, New Jersey. Doughty is credited with releasing this decoy down a zipline into his rig when a flock of birds approached. Describing a rigmate, William J. Mackey, Jr. points out that “the rarity of flying Brant decoys indicates that they did not work out as expected.” The wire attachments in the back were thus removed and filled, and a hole was drilled in the bottom for use as a stick-up. Of the few that were made, most did not survive with their canvas wings intact, making this prime example all the more rare.
  
  An old collection tag “50” is attached by one wing.
  Original paint with gunning wear and a tail repair.
  
  Provenance: Gordon and Virginia Hayes Collection Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection
  
  Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys from the Collection of the late William J. Mackey, Jr. of Belford, New Jersey," Session IV, October 20, 1973, lot 150, rigmate illustrated.
  William J. Mackey, Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 128, pl. 108, rigmate illustrated.

  Condition

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