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THBPreening Black Duck Hen Louis C. Rathmell (1898-1974)
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
LiveJul 27, 2017 - Jul 28, 2017
Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
View Full Catalog (156)
- Lot Description
Preening Black Duck Hen
Louis C. Rathmell (1898-1974)
Danbury, CT, c. 1941
15 1/2 in. long
According to O’Brien, “Rathmell was probably the best hunter of those who hunted the Stratford marshes. He not only made beautiful decoys, but stood alone as a wing shot and duck caller. His presence in the marsh was feared by the other hunters. When I showed Bill Mackey and Adele Earnest these decoys, they thought they were Shang Wheelers.” As they were virtually undistinguishable, they were often sold as Wheelers and thus O’Brien continues, “Rathmell was the most unappreciated of the Stratford carvers. A shame, because he was a great maker.”
In the 1960s O’Brien acquired twelve of these cork black ducks from the rig of fellow Connecticut hunter and carver, Louis Rathmell. O’Brien remarked that “His decoys are difficult to distinguish from Shang Wheeler’s when both were at their best. He won several contests from 1939- 1943, beating Wheeler and other top makers. He made one exquisite rig of shooting decoys, black ducks, all with different head positions.” O’Brien traded away seven of his other Rathmells to other top collectors, including Lloyd Griffith, George Starr, and George Thompson.
Excellent original paint with even gunning wear.
Provenance: Louis Rathmell Rig
Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection, acquired from the maker, c. 1962
Literature: Henry C. Chitwood, "Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, p. 100, exact decoy illustrated.
Cliff Alexander, "Lou Rathmell: A Decoy Maker Who Lived in a Castle," Decoy Magazine, November/December 2015, p. 25 and front cover, exact decoy illustrated.
Peter Johnson and Alf Wannenburgh, “The World of Shooting,” Lausanne, Switzerland, 1987, pp. 259-261, exact decoy illustrated.
Jackson Parker, “O’Brien Classic Decoys on Display at Museum of American Folk Art,” North American Decoys: Wildfowl Carvers and Collectors News, Spanish Fork, UT, Spring/Summer 1982, p. 37, exact decoy illustrated.
Exhibited: New York, New York, “The Art of the American Decoy: Folk Sculpture from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Donal C. O’Brien Jr.,” Museum of American Folk Art, September 3–November 8, 1981.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.
- Shipping Info
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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 PICK UP THEIR ITEMS AT THE SALE SITE. ITEMS CAN BE PICKED UP BY APPOINTMENT OR SHIPPED STARTING FIVE DAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE SALE
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