Pintail Pair, Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler (1872-1949)

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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
  Pintail Pair
  Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler (1872-1949)
  Stratford, CT, c. 1940
  17 1/2 in. and 20 1/2 in. long
  
  “.... inasmuch as live decoys are tabooed, the next best thing is something that resembles the live bird and it has been the experience of the writer that in actual competition with several rigs of inferior decoys, the ducks chose to come to the bunch of superior decoys. “There must be a very real difference in the eye of an approaching duck between, a flock of nondescript, long-necked, poorly made and painted blocks that jump and pitch, roll and toss in a tideway or a bit of ruffled water, that look scared and actually do scare a wild bird, and a setting of well shaped, properly painted, steady riding, gentle posed decoys that really impress a bunch of birds with the quiet and safety of the situation.” -Charles E. “Shang” Wheeler, "Duck Shooting Along the Atlantic Tidewater," 1947
  
  Charles Edward Wheeler is recognized as the most famous bird carver from Connecticut. While his predecessors Albert Laing (1811-1886) and Benjamin Holmes (1843-1912) made many gunning decoys of exceptional quality, it was Wheeler who took the art form to the next level, producing everything from sandhill cranes to sailfish. Shang, as everyone called him, was an enigmatic figure: oysterman, politician, boxer, cartoonist, public speaker, conservationist, and world-renowned decoy carver.
  
  Author Dixon Merkt comments on Wheeler’s life:
  
  "Wheeler’s concern with the conservation of nature eventually led him into politics. Over the years he had come to know and admire Teddy Roosevelt, and as a politician he adopted Roosevelt’s brand of progressive Republicanism. Himself a skilled ornithologist, former cowboy, and avid sportsman, Roosevelt had made conservation one cornerstone of his political platform. Wheeler followed in his footsteps. During several terms in the Connecticut General Assembly he led the campaign to pass anti-pollution and wildlife conservation legislation.
  
  "Unlike T.R., Wheeler had no driving ambitions. He went into politics because he wanted to clean up Connecticut’s harbors and river. He did much of the hard work and then let other men win the laurels. His ties to Roosevelt and later to Herbert Hoover might have lead him to high government office, if that had been his goal. But Wheeler was satisfied with the life he had built for himself around Stratford. He had many good friends; his work kept him outdoors; and each year he had time for hunting and fishing trips."
  
  In 1923 Wheeler arrived on the competition carving scene with a bang. Public concern over the popular and devastating practice of dusking (hunting after dark) had started to take shape. Led by conservationists, including early historian, author, and collector Joel Barber, along with Paul Bigelow and John Boyle, the group started the Anti-Duskers Society. The Anti-Duskers sponsored one of the first decoy shows in North America on August 23rd at the public library in Bellport, Long Island. A carving competition held at the event was aimed at hunters in attendance to further advance the concept of shooting over decoys. The inaugural event attracted amateur and professional carvers from near and far; however, it was Wheeler who took home top amateur honors with his dynamic turned-head mallard drake. Joel Barber gave the winning decoy the highest praise possible, lauding that it represented “the highest development yet reached in the American art of decoy carving.” As stated by Merkt and Lytle, “Wheeler carted off first prize at Bellport because he had introduced a new style to decoy painting.”
  
  Pintail decoys by Wheeler are exceedingly rare. Of the examples that have surfaced, the vast majority are flat-bottomed drakes. This sterling balsa pintail pair compares favorably to Wheeler’s famous prize-winning mallards which reside in the Shelburne Museum. The drake showcases a racy swimming form, with the hen slightly more content. The scratch feather paint is uncannily similar to the Shelburne mallard pair with identical treatment to the hens’ heads and the drakes’ bodies. Both drakes also feature metal tails.
  
  In the creation of this matched rigmate pair of decoys, Wheeler produced a lasting tribute that ranks as one of the finest sprig pairs to come out of Connecticut. Original paint minimal gunning wear, a tight crack in the drake’s neck, and a minute bill chip.
  
  Provenance: Herb Wetanson Collection
  
  Literature: Dixon MacD. Merkt, "Shang. A Biography of Charles E. Wheeler," Spanish Fork, UT, 1984, p. 80, related example illustrated.
  Henry C. Chitwood, "Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, p. 52, related decoy illustrated. Donna Tonelli, "Top of the Line Hunting Collectibles," Atglen, PA, 1998, p. 73, pintail pair illustrated.

  Condition

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  • Shipping info

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