Elmer Crowell Shorebird Trio

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1910 running yellowlegs is 14 in. long

This shorebird trio consists of three rare decoys. There is rigmate pair of yellowlegs from the rig of Joseph F. Sherer and a willet made during the same period. The yellowlegs duo features a rare running greater yellowlegs and an even less common sentinel lesser yellowlegs. The long and thin original bill on the lesser yellowlegs is especially noteworthy. Their incredible near-mint condition suggests that they were never used in the field. In the early 1900s, Joseph F. Sherer hunted with A. Elmer Crowell and George Flynn, the largest landowner on Martha’s Vineyard at the time. This pair is from the same collection as the record-setting Crowell decorative running curlew sold as lot 198 in Copley's Sporting Sale 2007.

The rarity of Crowell’s willet decoys cannot be overstated and only a handful of decoys from this rig have ever surfaced. This willet pattern is an inch longer than his greater yellowlegs of the same pose. It is finished with Crowell’s well-executed blended paint and a two-tone painted tack eye. The underside bears a conjoined "JF" stamp for the Joe French Collection. A rigmate resided in one of the nation’s top Crowell collections. The yellowlegs pair are in original paint with minimal wear. Willet is in original paint with light gunning wear, a replaced bill, and small ding to left side of neck.

Provenance: Joseph F. Sherer Collection, acquired directly from the artist (yellowlegs) Private Collection, by descent from the above (yellowlegs) Joe French Collection (willet) Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts (willet) Private Collection, Florida

Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, no willet decoy illustrated, p. 164, exact yellowlegs pair illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, pp. 14-15, McCleery lesser yellowlegs with replaced bill illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, pp. 162 and 163, McCleery greater yellowlegs decoys illustrated. Brian Cullity, "The Songless Aviary: The World of A. E. Crowell & Son," Sandwich, MA, 1992, p. 60, Harmon lesser yellowlegs with short bill illustrated.

Provenance

Joseph F. Sherer Collection, acquired directly from the artist (yellowlegs) Private Collection, by descent from the above (yellowlegs) Joe French Collection (willet) Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts (willet) Private Collection, Florida