Makers / Ward Brothers / Canvasback
Ward Brothers Canvasback Pair
The Ward Brothers, Lemuel T. (1896-1983) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, 1948
$3,738
Brought, including buyer's premium
Estimate $6,000–$8,000under estimate
Sold 17 Jan 2011at The Winter Sale 2011 — Copley
SpeciesCanvasbackConfigPairPaintOriginalQuantity2Carved1948Signedyes
The catalog record
The Ward Brothers, Lemuel T. (1896-1983) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, 1948
A pair of balsa-bodied, canvasback decoys, the drake is signed and dated on the bottom by Lem. Original paint with gunning wear.
Provenance: Ronald J. Gard Collection Private Collection, Texas
Literature: Ronald J.Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Wolf City, TX, 1989, color plate 17, exact birds illustrated.
Provenance
Ronald J. Gard Collection Private Collection, Texas
Comparable sales
The 5 most recent Ward Brothers Canvasbacks to cross the block.
| Sold | Condition | Paint | Brought |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2026 | — | Original | $2,040 |
| 1 Oct 2026 | — | Original | $720 |
| 6 Aug 2026 | — | Original | $840 |
| 30 Jul 2026 | — | Repaint | $630 |
| 25 Jul 2026 | Excellent | Original | $11,400 |
Same maker and species, most recent first. Prices include the buyer's premium. All Ward Brothers sales