The English Pintail Drake John English (1848-1915)

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The Sporting Sale 2017, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 27, 2017 - Jul 28, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-07-27 13:00:00 2017-07-28 13:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2017, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2017-day-1-2501
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• Lot Description

  The English Pintail Drake
  John English (1848-1915)
  Florence, NJ, c. 1880
  17 in. long
  
  John English was the “the innovator of the Delaware River decoy,” yet his existence alluded collectors for years and information about his life is just now being discovered. English’s importance as the father of the Delaware River school of carving is documented by virtually every authority from the region. Robert “Bob” White, describes English as “the ultimate Delaware River carver.” Author Kenneth L. Gosner notes, “The work of John English set a standard against which other Delaware River makers have been measured and compared ever since. Indeed, for many collectors, the English style is the Delaware River style.”
  
  The most immediate recipients of English’s technique were his sons, Dan (1883-1962) and John “Jack,” Jr. (b. 1881). They both used his patterns and carved with a measure of their father’s distinctive style. However, according to Harrison Huster and Doug Knight in “Floating Sculpture,” “John’s decoys are much lighter than those made by either of his sons. His carving is more refined and classic.”
  
  “John English of Florence, New Jersey no doubt produced some of the finest decoys ever used on the Delaware River,” writes Delaware River historian Alan Linkchorst. He continues, “His delicate hollow lures, with their lightly raised primaries and carefully incised wing and tail carving, clearly showcase his skills as one of the most talented makers of floating sculpture. If he wasn’t the innovator of the Delaware River style of decoy, he certainly was its early champion. Yet in the early recorded annals of the history of decoys and their makers, due to the gifted brushstrokes of an avid duck hunter from nearby Trenton, his contributions were nearly overlooked.” In Linkchorst’s article on John English the author explains “one of the reasons why John English decoys were so late in being identified by collectors could be attributed to the fact that a large rig of John English decoys were acquired by John Dawson [1886-1959], a hunter from nearby Trenton, who repainted the rig in bold geometric patterns. While this unplanned collaborative effort produced a rig that is highly sought by collectors, it undoubtedly reduced the number of John English decoys in original paint.”
  
  English was in complete command of his artistry when creating this decoy, which features a razor sharp upturned bill, subtle mandible and nostrils, and the precise raised wing-tip carving that marks the region’s style. The form and paint of this high-head pintail exhibit English’s best efforts and work in perfect harmony with one another.
  
  English’s elegant work shows a repetition of design. His pintail hens feature a strong V-shape to the raised wing tips that are repeated in the paint pattern. Until the discovery of this bird, English’s thoroughness and intent had not been seen in a pintail drake. The S-shaped curve of the head, neck, and breast is echoed perfectly by the white, chestnut, and gray paint patterns in that area. This smooth S-shape is repeated again in the green speculums and their white and orange accents.
  
  While there are several known John English pintails painted by John Dawson (1889-1959), this decoy remains the only pure English pintail drake to have surfaced. Several fine pintail hens have come to market, including a graceful hen that set the world record auction price for any decoy from the region, selling for close to a quarter of a million dollars.
  
  Bob White recalls that Lloyd Johnson (1910-1965) was “the first to realize that Delaware River birds were collectible and that while Mackey, Barber, and Earnest would visit him to buy decoys, he kept the best for himself.” This pintail was one that Johnson kept.
  
  This drake pintail sat front and center on a prominent shelf in O’Brien’s home as a bookend to the Barber-Dudley ruddy duck (see lot 34).
  
  Along with the Phillips and Long pintail drakes by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), this is perhaps the most important pintail ever to come to market.
  In excellent original paint with minimal gunning wear and a tight age line in sprig tip.
  
  Provenance: Lloyd Johnson Collection
  Morton M. Hanson Collection, acquired from the estate of the above
  Donal C. O'Brien Collection, acquired from the above
  
  LITERATURE: William J. Mackey, Jr., American Bird Decoys, New York, NY, 1965, p. 127, plate vi, English-Dawson illustrated. Allen Linkchorst, “John English,” Decoy Magazine, March/ April 2000, Lewes, DE, front cover and pp. 8-12, exact decoy illustrated. Robert H. Boyle, “The Art of Deception,” Audubon, May-June 2002, New York, NY, P.47, exact decoy 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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