Ward Brothers The Haid Cavanaugh Ward Mallard Drake

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, c. 1936-1942 17 in. long

“Stephen W. Ward (1895-1976) and his brother Lemuel Travis Ward (1896-1984) of Crisfield, Maryland were by far the most prominent Chesapeake Bay carvers of the twentieth century and among the greatest and most influential bird carvers of all time. The brothers worked closely together throughout their lives, combining the complementary talents of Steve’s hand carving and Lem’s brushwork to create works of extraordinary grace and realism.” — Robert Shaw, “Bird Decoys of North America”

In describing a closely related bird, Ward author Ronald Gard details the nuance of the makers’ progression to this “Classic Mallard Drake.” “This wonderful decoy,” he states, “has all the ingredients of a 1936 classic but seems to be a slightly more proportioned bird…the Wards have moved the design up one notch.” This lot features Steve’s excellent carving with a phenomenal turned head, sleek body, and thin rounded tail at an upward angle. The carving was finished with Lem’s excellent brushwork.

The underside of this bird was painted with a red “Cavanaugh Motors” English-Setter-logo stencil on a white background. Some of the white bottom paint has been removed from the edges of the bottom. Cavanaugh Motors Inc. was a long-standing car dealership in Salisbury, Maryland, home of the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Legendary Southern collector and historian William H. Purnell Jr. recalls his father purchasing Cadillac cars from Cavanaugh.

Along with the McCleery Collection example, this decoy is among the Ward brothers' best mallard decoys. Excellent original paint with light wear, including several small rubs below right speculum.

Provenance: Alan Haid Collection Private Collection, Ohio, acquired from the above

Literature: Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Plano, TX, 1989, pl. 74-75 and photo 50, related examples illustrated and discussed.

Provenance

Alan Haid Collection Private Collection, Ohio, acquired from the above