The Walter L. Bush Collection Monkey Island Swan Decoy

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The Winter Sale 2021, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 19, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-02-19 10:00:00 2021-02-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2021, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2021-day-1-6296
Lots 1-292 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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• Lot Description
  Monkey Island, NC, c. 1880
  23 1/2 in. long, 15 1/4 in. tall, and 10 3/4 in. wide
  
  This early swan decoy is as rare as it is hollow. The rarity of hollow North Carolina swans is demonstrated by the fact that only two such well-known rigs are known to exist. The eggshell-thin construction is particularly noteworthy as this grand decoy weighs less than some duck decoys. In addition to its interior refinements, it showcases graceful flowing lines. The body measures nearly eleven inches in width and has a gentle sweep from the raised neck seat, through the humped back, to the upswept tail. The high neck is drawn back and flows to an uplifted head. It displays full cheeks and is finished with a mortise-and-tenon bill.
  
  This rare hollow design has been highly sought after by collectors and institutions over the decades. Related examples in varying conditions have been acquired by William J. Mackey Jr., Carter Smith, Paul Tudor Jones II, Collectable Old Decoys, and the Shelburne Museum, among others.
  
  As per the inscription, this decoy hails from the Monkey Island Club which is located in the middle of Currituck Sound in North Carolina. Monkey Island was named for the Pamunkey Indians who once inhabited the seven-acre island. In 1869 the island was purchased for $15 by Norfolk investors who formed a private hunting club there. In 1919 tobacco executives purchased the club and surrounding land. As a result, the Monkey Island Club consisted of one thousand acres, an eight-bedroom clubhouse, a boat house, and a three-bedroom cottage. The initial stock price of a membership share was $5,000. Its membership represented some of the wealthiest and most powerful figures of the day, including George Hill, president of the American Tobacco Company. Renowned artist Roland Clark (1874-1957) was a recurring Monkey Island Club guest who was said to have frequented the club armed with his sketch pad and pen as well as his gun.
  
  In 1931 the vice-president of the American Tobacco Company, Charles A. Penn, bought out the rest of the members' shares. Forty-three years later, the Penn family sold the club to the Monkey Island Investment Venture Corp. for three million dollars. The island is now part of the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge.
  
  The swan's right side bears a museum identification code "A51.62" and the underside has an inscription which reads, "Whistling Swan from Monkey Island Club / Currituck Sound / North Carolina."
  This decoy retains some of the finest paint to be found on any North Carolina swan. In very good old working paint with even gunning wear.
  
  Provenance: Walter L. Bush Collection
  Collection of a New York City Museum, acquired from the above in 1953
  
  Literature: Donna Tonelli, "Top of the Line Hunting Collectibles," Atglen, PA, 1998, p. 105, related example 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.
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• Buyer's Premium

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