Reaching Great Blue Heron from India

Lot 466

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 2022, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 15, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-07-15 10:00:00 2022-07-15 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2022, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2022-day-2-9461 Lots 333-676 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Reaching Great Blue Heron
India, c. 1900
32 1/2 in. tall, 41 in. long

"When well conceived and endowed with the awkward grace of the great bird itself, a heron decoy can take command of almost any collection. Their variety runs the entire gamut from the most primitive forms to beautifully carved and painted examples.” — William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys"

True working heron decoys are difficult to obtain, with surviving decoys by known makers nearly non-existent. Heron carvings were often used as confidence decoys for other species and lore has it that some of the old baymen collected them as tablefare. These waders were additionally hunted for their plumage until they received full legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Herons' use as confidence decoys was not adopted in most areas and most makers never added one to their rigs. This grand carving measures over forty inches from tip to tail. Similar to the geese of Charles Safford and John Tax, the large hollow body was made with multi-piece construction. The head is in a reaching position and cocked to the right.

The underside is fitted with two legs and a metal support rod. One known related example was sold in 2021 as part of the Linda E. Johnson Collection.
Mix of old paint with heavy wear, working repairs, loss to tail, and contemporary restoration to body, bill, and legs.

Provenance: Private Collection, New England

Literature: Ludovic du Faux, "Ces Oiseaux Qui Ne Volent Jamais," chapter D. 29 L'Inde, see related examples.
Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Johnson Collection of American Bird Decoys," Hingham, MA, July 9-10, 2021, inside back cover and lot 26, closely related example illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, chapter IV, herons discussed and 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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