Ward Brothers Rare Pinch-breast Broadbill

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, c. 1930

An early pinch-breast decoy with a high and turned head with a thin bill. The body has a pinch-breast, high back, and thin paddle tail. A Noyes Museum exhibition stamp is on the underside from 1984. Mix of original and old gunning paint with gunning wear, chip to right edge of tail, check along underside, and fill to top of nail in head.

Provenance: Private Collection, South Carolina

Literature: Eugene V. Connett, ed., "Duck Shooting Along the Atlantic Tidewater," New York, NY, 1947, p. 129, related decoy illustrated. John T. Ordeman and M.C. Weiler, Jr., "The Art of Milton C. Weiler," Hilton Head Island, SC, 2011, p. 104, related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, South Carolina