Albert Laing Preening Bluebill Drake

Albert D. Laing (1811-1886) Stratford, CT 12 in. long

A boldly carved preening broadbill drake branded “F. BURRITT” on the underside. Francis Burritt (1850-1928) was the designer of the Sandbagger "EZ Sloat" sailing vessel and the founder of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, Greenwich, CT.

Featuring Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler's best scratch comb feather paint.

The provenance of this decoy reads like decoy maker and collector royalty having been gunned over by Albert Laing, Francis Burritt, and Shang Wheeler, before being retired by Thomas Marshall, and acquired by Donal O'Brien, Jr. In Wheeler repaint with gunning wear.

Provenance: Albert Laing Rig Commodore Francis Burritt Rig Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler Rig Thomas C. Marshall Rig/Collection, acquired from the above Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above

Literature: William J. Mackey, Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 68, plate 48, exact decoy illustrated, incorrectly attributed to Ben Holmes. Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 11, exact decoy illustrated, incorrectly attributed to Ben Holmes. Henry C. Chitwood, "Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, back dust-jacket cover and p. 65, rigmate illustrated.

Provenance

Albert Laing Rig Commodore Francis Burritt Rig Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler Rig Thomas C. Marshall Rig/Collection, acquired from the above Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above