Elmer Crowell Standing Preening Black Duck

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1915 A rare life-size turned-head black duck mantel carving retaining the maker's oval brand on the bottom. This exceptional carving exhibits blended detailed feather painting, life-like bill detail, carved primary wing feathers and fluted tail carving. Crowell made far fewer life-size decorative waterfowl carvings than shorebirds and miniatures. The scale and detail required far more time, and as a result the number of life-size waterfowl carvings can only be counted in the dozens. Original paint with craquelure on the fore and aft end grain. A small section of one gesso foot and two toenails are missing. Five faint letters of the otherwise crisp brand have been reinforced in ink.

Provenance: Private Collection, Midwest

Literature: Brian Cullity, "The Songless Aviary: The World of A.E. Crowell & Son," Sandwich, MA, 1992, p. 82, figure 44, similar bird illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, Midwest