Albert Laing Sleeping Surf Scoter

Albert Davids Laing (1811-1886) New York, NY and Stratford, CT, c. 1850 14 in. long

An exceptional, hollow, turned-head decoy by the father of the Stratford School. Beginning its life in the gunning rigs of the three most important decoy makers and hunters from Connecticut, this bird decoy was then collected by four of the country's most prominent decoy collectors. Laing, originally from New York City, is one of the earliest documented carvers in North America. The underside bears a large “LAING” rig brand.

Laing has been revered for adding a lifelike quality to his rigs with a variety of head positions, such as this elegant sleeper. There is no evidence that Laing ever sold decoys commercially, and it is believed that at the time of his death the one hundred eleven decoys from his gunning rig constituted the majority of his entire output. According to Chitwood, Laing’s entire hunting rig was sold after his passing in 1886 for $45. Carefully taken down to mostly original paint with some touch-up, partial restoration to bill.

Provenance: Albert D. Laing Rig Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler Rig Tom Marshall Rig and Collection Dr. George Ross Starr, Jr. Collection Ronald S. Swanson Collection Peter Brams Collection Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection

Literature: D. Webster & W. Kehoe, "Shelburne Museum Decoys," Shelburne, VT, 1961, p. 75, rigmate illustrated. Henry C. Chitwood, "Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, p. 65, Shelburne Museum rigmate illustrated. Laurence Sheehan, "The Birding Life," New York, NY, 2011, p. 22, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Albert D. Laing Rig Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler Rig Tom Marshall Rig and Collection Dr. George Ross Starr, Jr. Collection Ronald S. Swanson Collection Peter Brams Collection Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection