Preening Black Duck, Albert Davids Laing (1811-1886)

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The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 19, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-07-19 13:00:00 2018-07-19 13:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2018-day-1-3286
On July 19, Copley Fine Art Auctions will lead off their annual Sporting Sale with 140 lots from the Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys. On July 20 Copley will present an additional 425 lots of decoys, fish carvings, and sporting art. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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• Lot Description
  Preening Black Duck
  Albert Davids Laing (1811-1886)
  New York, NY and Stratford, CT, c. 1855
  13 1/4 in. long
  
  An exceptional hollow preening decoy by the father of the Stratford school. Laing, originally from New York City, is one of the earliest documented carvers in North America. This decoy was used in the famous gunning rig belonging to Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler.
  
  Like many of the decoys in Wheeler's collection, this black duck was owned by Joel Barber. Upon Barber's passing it was acquired by the family of Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888-1960) and presented to the Shelburne Museum. Having acquired two nearly identical rigmates, the museum deaccessioned this decoy in 1985, selling it at the Bourne Auction Company where it set the world-record price for a Laing. The underside bears the museum's collection stamp.
  
  There is no evidence that Laing ever sold decoys commercially, and it is believed that at the time of his death the one hundred eleven decoys from his gunning rig constituted the majority of his entire output. According to Chitwood, Laing’s entire hunting rig was sold after his passing in 1886 for $45.
  
  Well ahead of his time, Laing’s innovative carving style incorporated several design insights into his craft, including positioning the seam line of his hollow carved decoys above the waterline to prevent water from seeping into the seam. His decoys are carved with long, sleek bodies and a full proud breast. Perhaps Laing's greatest contribution was adding a lifelike quality to his decoys by utilizing a variety of head positions.
  In working Wheeler paint with gunning wear.
  
  Provenance: Albert D. Laing Rig
  Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler Rig
  Joel Barber Collection
  Electra Havemeyer Webb Family, acquired from the estate of the above
  Shelburne Museum Collection, acquired from the above
  Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection
  
  Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Rare American Decoys & Bird Carvings," December 6 & 7, 1985, p. 43, lot 233, exact decoy illustrated.
  David S. Webster & William Kehoe, "Shelburne Museum Decoys," Shelburne, VT, 1961, p. 16, rigmate illustrated.
  H. Chitwood, "Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, p. 27, rigmate illustrated.

  Condition

  Condition report requests can be made via email or by telephone (info@copleyart.com or 617.536.0030). 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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