Snakey-Head Brant Decoy by Larry Kirack (1918-1970)

Lot 105

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

Bid Increments

Price	Bid Increment
$0	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,500	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$25,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000

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

View Full Catalog (337)

Lot Description

Snakey-Head Brant
Larry Kirack (1918-1970)
Eureka, CA, c. 1945
15 in. long

The wonderful serpentine form and published history of this decoy have rightfully made it an icon of the Northwest and, along with the brant by Wes Batterson and Capt. Olsen's rig, it is among the most sculptural and recognizable of the Pacific's floating brant decoys.

A boatbuilder and a brant hunter on Humboldt Bay, Kirack was a skilled craftsman. The neck is inletted through the entire height of the body, down to the bottom of the breast. Iterating this emphasis on structural integrity, the bill is inlaid through the entire head. As testament to his craft, this well-used decoy did not break.
Old working paint with gunning wear.

Provenance: August Sebastiani Collection
Richard and Dorothy Wheeler Collection, acquired from the above

Literature: Michael R. Miller and Frederick W. Hanson, "Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast,"Portland, OR, 1989, p. 126, exact carving illustrated. Michael R. Miller, "Wildfowl Decoys of California,"Spokane, WA, 2015, p. 44, related carvings 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
- Shipping info
  
  Copley does not offer in-house packing or shipping. For clients who require shipping, please complete the Shipping Release Form and return it with your payment. The form includes a list of shippers we frequently work with.