Ward Brothers "fat-jaw" Bluebill Drake
The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976)
The catalog record
The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, c. 1920
An historically important gunning decoy by Maryland's most noted makers.
Bird retains traces of the original paint with some working paint to the black areas, tight cracks to the body. Overall structurally sound.
Provenance: Asa B. Allen Collection, purchased at the Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc. Auctions, Hyannis, MA, in the early 1970s.
Literature: A. Earnest, The Art of the Decoy, New York, NY, 1965, pp. 122, 184.
Provenance
Asa B. Allen Collection, purchased at the Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc. Auctions, Hyannis, MA, in the early 1970s.
Comparable sales
The 5 most recent Ward Brothers Scaup/Bluebills to cross the block.
| Sold | Condition | Paint | Brought |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct 2026 | — | — | $625 |
| 3 Oct 2026 | Excellent | Original | $5,460 |
| 3 Oct 2026 | — | Original | $4,260 |
| 24 Sep 2026 | — | Original | $2,520 |
| 25 Jul 2026 | Excellent | — | $4,800 |
Same maker and species, most recent first. Prices include the buyer's premium. All Ward Brothers sales