Ward Brothers The Ward-prescott Ruddy Duck Hen

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, 1931 16 1/2 in. long

This decoy emanates from the estate of Marjorie Wiggin Prescott of Greenwich, Connecticut. She was a lifelong collector inspired by her father, the historic New York financier Albert Wiggin. Her husband, Sherburne Prescott, was also supportive of her collecting and, like his father-in-law, was a president of Chase Bank. While much of the Prescott Collection was sold through Christies, decoys, including this singular ruddy duck, surfaced at the Richard Bourne auction in 1981. The Wards made several exceptional stand-alone pairs for this Greenwich family that now rest on the shelves of top collectors around the country, including an iconic wigeon pair that were reunited by Donald Kirson.

Fortunately, this hen, and its mate, passed through the Ralph Sterling Collection, which was profiled by "Decoy Magazine" in 1986, in which the following was published: "The pair of Ruddy duck decoys are made of solid cedar, in original paint and are in mint condition. They were made in 1931. Oliver Lawson described them as the 'rarest pair of Ward decoys I have seen.' Ken Basile, former museum director of the Ward Foundation in Salisbury, Maryland appraised these in 1984, 'This pair of decoys is extremely rare and an excellent example of the finest of the Ward Brothers work.'

"The Pair have unusual holes in the bill. Sterling asked Lem about it. Lem explained that he had a tool like a screwdriver that he heated and burned through for the nostrils. He used this when making the ducks in the barbershop next to Maddrix's store in the early '30s."

This oversized carving with a broad bill and tail is dated and inscribed "-1931- L.T. Ward - Bro. Crisfield, Md." with Lem's signature underneath. Original paint with light wear.

Provenance: Marjorie Wiggin Prescott Collection Ralph Sterling Collection Private Collection, Florida

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., "American Decoys and Bird Carvings Auction," Hyannis Port, MA, July 7-8 1981, lot 294, exact decoy and rigmate illustrated. Decoy Magazine, "Collectors' Corner: Mint decoratives of the Ward Brothers from the collection of Walter Binder and Ralph Sterling," Fall 1986, p. 24, exact decoy illustrated and discussed. Loy S. Harrell Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest," Iola, WI, 2000, p. 160, Prescott Collection wigeon illustrated.

Provenance

Marjorie Wiggin Prescott Collection Ralph Sterling Collection Private Collection, Florida