Swimming Gadwall, Cassius Smith (1847-1907)

Lot 173

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 2019 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2019

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 16, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-16 10:00:00 2019-02-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2019 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2019-3820 The sale will offer the opportunity to view and take home world-class paintings and fine bird carvings. Featuring selections from the collections of Alfred Ely, L. H. LaMonte, Grant Nelson, Ronald S. Swanson, Herb Wetanson, and a descendant of Chester F. Spear among others. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Swimming Gadwall
Cassius Smith (1847-1907)
Milford, CT, c. 1890
17 1/4 in. long

The extreme rarity of vintage gadwall decoys cannot be overstated with virtually no significant examples in original paint surfacing, outside of Louisiana and the J. N. Dodge Decoy Factory. In fact, research may find this to be the only Atlantic Coast Gadwall decoy dating back to the nineteenth century. Rarity aside, the form and paint of this hollow swimming decoy make it one of the finest waterfowl carvings produced on either shore of Long Island Sound.

Cassius Smith is recorded as a market gunner and skilled carver who supplied wild waterfowl to his brother George, who owned a hotel in Milford, Connecticut, prior to the passing of the Migratory Bird Act of 1918.

Displaying crisp lines paired with full features and soft brush work, both the form and the paint bear a strong resemblance to the work of John Blair Sr. (1842-1928) of Philadelphia. The head, in a swimming position, has excellent bill carving and pronounced cheeks. A central chine is seen on the top of the head and again on top of the maker's signature delicate pointed tail. Additionally, the carver chose to incorporate sculpted wing separation behind the head.

The underside is branded “D. A. YOUNG” and retains the museum code “16358” on the left side of the breast. A rigmate merganser bearing a nearly identical "16354" code is featured in the "One Hundred Greatest" book and resides in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Haid. The Historic Charleston Foundation's 2013 exhibition catalog, "The Allure of the Decoy," showcasing the Haid collection, notes that these birds “were found in a private museum in Mattituck, Long Island in the 1980’s. All of these decoys were hollow, full bodied, and elegantly painted.” Original paint with minimal gunning wear, minor spot touch-up to screw holes.

Provenance: D. A. Young Rig
Private Museum, Mattituck, Long Island, New York
Rusty and Dianna Johnson Collection

Literature: Loy S. Harrell, Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest," Iola, WI, 2000, pp. 74-75, rigmate merganser illustrated.
Alan G. Haid and Brandy Culp, “The Allure of the Decoy,” Charleston, SC, 2013, pp. 30-31, rigmate merganser illustrated.
Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 176, rigmate illustrated. Gene and Linda Kangas, "Decoys: A North American Survey," Spanish Fork, UT, 1983, p. 205, pl. 26, related mallard 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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