Important Calling Yellowlegs, A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)

Lot 157

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

Bid Increments

Price	Bid Increment
$0	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,500	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$25,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000

About Auction

The Sporting Sale 2020 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2020

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 23, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-07-23 10:00:00 2020-07-23 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2020 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2020-5244 Copley Fine Art Auctions The Sporting Sale 2020 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (297)

Lot Description

Important Calling Yellowlegs
A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
East Harwich, MA, c. 1915
11 in. long

This exceptional and rare decorative stands among the finest yellowlegs that Crowell ever created. Carved with a rarely seen open wooden bill and dropped wings, the slightly upswept tail and dropped primaries mirror the horizontal V-shape of the bill, providing the carving with a perfect balance. The top edges of the wings are raised over the body, creating a carved V over the back. The bold body includes slight shoulder separation. A strong S-curve defines the drawn-back posture of the calling head. Crowell applied his finest wet-on-wet paint with great detail to represent the species’ plumage, including special treatment to the auriculars and under the eyes. With particularly long legs and bill, this example represents the greater (winter) yellowlegs. The base is the maker's very best carved clamshell and its underside bears an early and crisp oval brand. Crowell made a closely related calling yellowlegs hunting decoy for his patron Harry V. Long in 1910. He subsequently carved a decorative for Long in the same posture. This carving, out of the Evans Collection, is based on the very same decorative pattern and was likely made at the same time for a friend of Long's. These two distinct carvings mark the nexus of Crowell’s transition from the marsh to the mantle.
Original paint with minimal wear, a reset neck, some restoration to the bill, and touch-up to thigh putty.

Provenance: Carolyn Rowland Collection
Thomas M. Evans Jr. Collection

Literature: Stephen B. O’Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, p. 125, exact decorative illustrated.
Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC, "The Harry V. Long Collection of A. Elmer Crowell Decoys," The Sporting Sale, Boston, MA, 2009, lot 64, pp. 24, 73 and dust jacket cover, Long calling decoy 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.
Shipping Info
- Shipping info
  
  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 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.