Bert Graves Pintail Pair

Bert Graves (1880-1956) Peoria, IL, c. 1925 A pair of Illinois River pintails carved by Bert Graves and painted by Catherine Elliston. The hen is one of the finest examples known to exist and is comparable to the famous hen illustrated on page 103 in O'Brien and Carlson's "Masterworks of the Illinois River." It retains its original "G.B. Graves. Decoy. Co. Peoria. Ill." lead strip weight and was originally collected by William J. Mackey and later by Dr. James McCleery. The drake was originally collected by Joseph B. French. Original paint with minor gunning wear including a tail chip on the hen and both have bill dents.

Provenance: Hen: William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Dr. James M. McCleery Collection Private Collection, Midwest Drake: Joseph B. French Collection Private Collection, Midwest

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, p. 105, exact decoy illustrated. Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Julie Carlson, "Masterworks of the Illinois River," Boston, MA, 2005, pp. 97 and 103, similar decoys illustrated.

Provenance

Hen: William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Dr. James M. McCleery Collection Private Collection, Midwest Drake: Joseph B. French Collection Private Collection, Midwest