Ward Brothers Important Vl&a Mallard Hen

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, c. 1942 17 in. long

“This wonderful decoy has all the ingredients of a 1936 Classic but seems to be a slightly more proportioned bird. The classic elements of high head, flat forehead, and long bill are there, it is just that the Wards have moved the design up one notch.” - Ronald Gard and Brian McGrath describing the McCleery-Griffith 1942 VL&A Ward mallard mate.

This carving showcases the classic Ward decoy at its best. The underside of the unrigged bird is inked with a stamp reading “Hand Made, Distributed by, VL&A, Chicago, ILL.” This is for Von Lengerke & Antoinne, the preeminent sporting goods retailer of Chicago. The store had been acquired by Abercrombie & Fitch by the time the Wards made decoys for them. Ron Gard points out in his book on the brothers, “It is indeed a credit to the artistry of the Wards, that the prestigious department store, Von Lengerke and Antoine (VL&A), sold the Ward mallard and pintail decoys to hunters throughout the Mississippi Flyway. This area was home to some of the finest decoy makers in America.” Indeed, this recently discovered decoy surfaced west of the Mississippi.

A celebrated 1942 model VL&A mate to this hen was owned by both Dr. James McCleery and Dr. Lloyd Griffith. The McCleery-Griffith drake has been illustrated and exhibited extensively, including in Gard and McGrath’s Ward book. That iconic drake, published in at least four important decoy publications, has never been photographed with a hen. The authors refer to the McCleery-Griffith Ward mallard drake as a "1942 Classic Mallard Drake." They write, “This wonderful decoy has all the ingredients of a 1936 Classic but seems to be a slightly more proportioned bird. The classic elements of high head, flat forehead, and long bill are there, it is just that the Wards have moved the design up one notch....the shape of the bird seems more realistic and seaworthy. The paint is outstanding with its vibrant colors mixed with the more naturally muted hues.” This hen fits the drake's description to a "T," but with even better paint application and detail. Like the McCleery-Griffith bird, she also shows a turned head with very wide bill carving. Original paint with light wear.

Provenance: Private Collection

Literature: Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Plano, TX, 1989, pp. 83-86, McCleery-Griffith drake illustrated and discussed. Sotheby's and Guyette and Schmidt, "American Waterfowl Decoys: The Distinguished Collection of Dr. James M. McCleery," New York, NY, January 22, 2000, lot 494, McCleery-Griffith Drake illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, pp. 78-79, McCleery-Griffith drake illustrated. Ronald J. Gard and Robert Shaw, eds., "The McCleery Auction," Dallas, TX, 2001, p. 125, McCleery-Griffith drake illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection