Important Black Duck Decoy, Nathan F. Cobb Jr. (1825-1905)

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The Sporting Sale 2019

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 25, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-07-25 10:00:00 2019-07-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2019 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2019-4227
July 25 at 10 am | 550 lots Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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• Lot Description
  Nathan F. Cobb Jr. (1825-1905)
  Cobb Island, VA, c. 1875
  15 3/4 in. long
  
  In "American Bird Decoys," William J. Mackey Jr. proclaims that "the Cobbs" were determined to produce the best decoys possible, and their work excellently served the needs of both the nineteenth-century hunter and the modern collector.”
  
  This hollow black duck, with an inletted head, is among of the finest Cobb Island black ducks known, hailing from early Washington, D.C. collector William Butler. It was selected by Fleckenstein for his "Southern Decoys of Virginia and the Carolinas" book. In addition to Cobb's standard eye-groove carving and classic tail cut, this model features a bold well-proportioned body and a pronounced breast.
  
  The pride the maker took in creating this particular bird is noted on its underside where it is signed by Nathan Cobb Jr. with a crisp and deeply incised serifed "N." It is rare that decoy carvers are regarded for their signatures; however, in his passionate account of the Cobbs, Mackey notes that "the skill and artistry with which the initials are carved indicate the dedication and talent that Nathan Cobb lavished on his work." Collectors today continue to covet the mark; indeed, the maker's mark on this important decoy is also illustrated in Fleckenstein's quintessential "Southern Decoys" book.
  
  Contributing to this decoy's rarity, in 1893, low-lying Cobb Island was washed over and largely wrecked by the sea, the first of several catastrophic storms.
  Original paint with even gunning wear, a dark wash, and a few age lines.
  
  Provenance: William Butler Collection
  Private Collection
  
  Literature: Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "Southern Decoys of Virginia and the Carolinas," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 197, exact decoy illustrated.
  William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 152.
  Dr. Lloyd Newberry, "The Saga of Cobb Island," Sporting Classics, Spring/Summer 2018, pp. 140-145.

  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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