Mackey Long-Tailed Drake Decoy

Lot 128

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

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About Auction

The Sporting Sale 2023, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2023, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 13, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-07-13 10:00:00 2023-07-13 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2023, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2023-day-1-12989 Lots 1-243 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (243)

Lot Description

Mackey Long-Tailed Drake
Long Island, NY, c. 1880
11 1/4 in. long

An early hunting decoy that saw use along the rugged waters of the Atlantic Coast. William Mackey owned this decoy and illustrated a pair of rigmates as Labrador ducks in his 1965 book "American Bird Decoys." The same decoys appear in a 1978 publication discussing the elusive Labrador duck. Though historically called a Labrador duck by Mackey, the presence of original black cheek patches and the absence of black neck bands mark a distinction between long-tails and Labradors.

A rare construction element, which Mackey noted, is the curved section cut into the back to hollow the decoy from the top. The underside is struck with a Mackey Collection ink stamp.
Original and old working paint with moderate gunning wear, touch-up to bill, and a wash on black.

Provenance: William J. Mackey Collection
Private Collection, Dallas

Literature: Russell A. Fink, “Catalog of American Bird Decoys,” Lorton, VA, 1976, lot 76, related decoy illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 62, rigmates illustrated. Sotheby's and Guyette and Schmidt, "American Waterfowl Decoys: The Distinguished Collection of Dr. James M. McCleery," New York, NY, January 22–23, 2000, p. 138, lot 341, rigmate illustrated. “North American Decoys Magazine,” Summer 1978, p. 26, rigmates 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
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