Important Set of Twenty-Four Waterfowl Miniatures, A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)

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The Winter Sale 2019

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 16, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-16 10:00:00 2019-02-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2019 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2019-3820
The sale will offer the opportunity to view and take home world-class paintings and fine bird carvings. Featuring selections from the collections of Alfred Ely, L. H. LaMonte, Grant Nelson, Ronald S. Swanson, Herb Wetanson, and a descendant of Chester F. Spear among others. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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• Lot Description
  Important Set of Twenty-Four Waterfowl Miniatures
  A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
  East Harwich, MA, c. 1930
  2 1/2 to 5 3/4 in. long
  
  Crowell created three different sets of miniature birds, twenty-five ducks, twenty-five songbirds, and twenty-five shorebirds, which he sold to not only his decoy buyers and seasonal tourists, but also schools and museums around the nation for species identification purposes.
  
  This rare group perfectly matches a Crowell waterfowl setlist, with the exception of a missing wigeon drake. A vast majority of the original Crowell sets have been broken up over the years, making this a rare opportunity to acquire a single flock with remarkable consistency from bird to bird. The group includes the following: Canada goose, brant, black duck, redhead hen and drake, mallard hen and drake, blue-winged teal drake, pintail hen and drake, American merganser drake, red-breasted merganser drake, merganser hen, hooded merganser drake, long-tailed duck drake, bufflehead drake, bluebill hen and drake, green-winged teal drake, ruddy duck drake, canvasback hen and drake, wood duck drake, and goldeneye drake.
  
  The bluebill hen, wood duck, mallard hen, and ruddy duck bear the "A.E. Crowell MAKER East Harwich MASS" circular ink stamp, and all the others bear the maker's rectangular stamp on the bottom of the bases. All birds are in original paint with minor wear including some chips and flaking, some are loose on their bases which show some discoloration on undersides from mounting residue. Goose and pintail heads and American merganser bill have been reset. Wood duck, red-breasted merganser, and goldeneye are missing parts of bills.
  
  Provenance: Estate of Corrine C. Zimmermann
  
  Literature: A. E. Crowell, “Cape Cod Memories,” in "Duck Shooting along the Atlantic Tidewater," Eugene V. Connett, ed, New York, NY, 1947, pp. 59-60.
  Brian Cullity, "The Songless Aviary," Hyannis, MA, 1992, pp. 90-99, similar birds illustrated.
  Stephen B. O'Brien, Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019.

  Condition

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• Shipping Info

  • Shipping info

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