Goldeneye Drake
Lothrop Turner Holmes (1824-1899)
Kingston, MA, c. 1880
14 in. long
An exceedingly rare decoy from the personal rig of one of New England’s most respected decoy carvers. Only two examples of this species by Holmes have ever surfaced. This bird exhibits a gently sloped breast, a finely sculpted body and tail, and a well-patterned head with glass eyes. The bottom of the decoy displays the maker's seldom seen “L.T. HOLMES” rig brand, applied twice. A “TWD” brand for the later rig of T. W. Douglas, also from Kingston, Massachusetts, and a “Q” brand for the Quandy collection also appear on the bottom.
A mixture of original and working paint with touch up, even gunning wear. Lower one-third of the bill has been professionally restored.
Provenance: Lothrop T. Holmes Rig
T. W. Douglas Rig
Quandy Collection
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection
Literature: George Ross Starr, Jr., M.D., "Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway," New York, NY, 1974, p. 173, fig. 87, rigmate illustrated.
Condition
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