Ward Brothers Classic 1936 Black Duck

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, c. 1936 17 3/4 in. long

A fine sculpture, this black duck has a forty-five degree turn to the head with full cheeks and eye grooves. The racy body perfectly captures the attitude of a swimming black duck finishing with a rare uplifted tail. Lem's masterful feather-painting brushwork is on full display from head to tail with a suite of techniques layered to represent this challenging species. Original paint with even gunning wear, professional touch-up to bill, around neck seam and crack on left side. Minor white spotting on back removed.

Literature: Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Wolfe City, TX, 1989, pp. 71 and 79.