Rare Swan Decoy by William "Bill" Neal (1924-2014)

Lot 109

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 Winter Sale 2023, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2023, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 24, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-02-24 10:00:00 2023-02-24 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2023, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2023-day-1-11939 Lots 1-337 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Rare Swan
William "Bill" Neal (1924-2014)
Black Point, CA, c. 1976
31 in. long

"Bill Neal," writes Miller "...was one of California's great decoy carvers." Carving augmented his income as a house painter. Before heading overseas to serve in World War II as a B-17 gunner, Bill sold his decoy collection not knowing if he would ever return. When he returned Stateside in 1946, he picked up his decoy carving tools and did not set them down again until shortly before his death in 2014. He made only three swan decoys; two of which reside in the Wheeler collection, and the location of the third is unknown.
Excellent original paint with light wear and touch-up to a cleanly reset neck crack.

Provenance: Richard and Dorothy Wheeler Collection, acquired directly the maker, circa 1976

Literature: Michael R. Miller, "Wildfowl Decoys of California,"Spokane, WA, 2015, p. 154, duck decoys 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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