Benjamin Smith Black Duck

Benjamin D. Smith (1866-1946) Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA, c. 1890 17 1/2 in. long

This decoy ranks as one of the top black duck decoys from the region. It is prominently featured in Stanley Murphy's 1978 book "Martha's Vineyard Decoys."

Very few Smith or Vineyard birds survive in original paint. Decoys from the island were often heavily gunned due to the long hunting seasons afforded by the relatively temperate climate and brackish waters.

In "Martha's Vineyard Decoys," Stanley Murphy illustrates this decoy and he also discusses Benjamin Smith: "Most of the great names of American decoy carving were professionals each of whose lifetime production amounted to hundreds and even thousands of examples. Their work was appreciated in their own time and they had many incentives to improve technique and refine style over a long period. Smith, on the other hand, was a loner who made his decoys for the ducks only, not for men, yet his carvings are a distillation of great natural talent, the keenest powers of observation, and superb technique."

This decoy has also been attributed to fellow Martha's Vineyard carver Benjamin W. Pease (1866-1938). The bottom of the decoy bears a "J.P." stamp in the lead weight. Original paint with even gunning wear and some darkening to worn areas.

Literature: Stanley Murphy, "Martha's Vineyard Decoys," Boston, MA, 1978, p. 136, exact decoy illustrated.