Ira Hudson Brant

Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949) Chincoteague, VA, c. 1930 A rare hollow brant decoy made for the Bob-O-Del Gun Club. This club was founded by members of General Motors on an island that is now part of the Assateague National Seashore, adjacent to Hudson's home on Chincoteague Island. Henry Stansbury, in his book on Hudson, writes, "The best rig of Ira Hudson brant decoys belonged to the Bob-O-Dell Gun Club on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Made in the 1930s, they can be easily identified by the circle brand under their tail that was burned in with a red-hot cast iron pipe." Branded "O" and "WHPJR" on the underside. Original paint with even gunning wear and flaking to both sides of neck seat, seam shrinkage, and an old tail chip.

Provenance: Bob-O-Del Gun Club Rig William H. Purnell, Jr. Collection Private Collection

Literature: Robert H. Richardson ed., "Chesapeake Bay Decoys," Burtonsville, MD, 1991, p. 187, exact decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., "Southern Decoys of Virginia and the Carolinas," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 206, similar decoys illustrated. Henry H. Stansbury, "Ira D. Hudson and Family," Lewes, DE, 2002, pp. 74-75, rigmates illustrated.

Provenance

Bob-O-Del Gun Club Rig William H. Purnell, Jr. Collection Private Collection