Ward Brothers Bishops Head Canada Goose

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1983) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, 1941 27 1/4 in. long

together with a framed "L.T. Ward & Bro. Counterfeiters in Wood" print, 1978, 27 1/2 by 32 in.

A classic and distinct goose decoy made for the Bishops Head Gun Club. This group of decoys was the result of the owner of the club, Colonel Albanus Phillips (1871-1949), and the Ward brothers sitting down and designing wooden replacements for his live goose decoys. This product of their collaboration exhibits additional carved bill detail and a long-reaching neck, portraying a goose swimming. The Wards appear to have maintained a relationship with the club, providing additional decoys and maintenance to the rig over time. A related decoy is featured in the “Hundred Greatest” book.

Of the numerous goose patterns produced by the Ward brothers, the Bishops Head Gun Club model is the most popular. This swimming goose displays articulated bill and full cheek carving and a graceful profile that finishes with a pronounced paddle tail. This exact decoy is prominently featured front and center in the famous 1978 Shertz print, titled "The Decoys of Lem and Steve Ward," which showcased the brothers' "11 favorite working decoy models." The underside bears the date "1941," the signature of Lem Ward, the inscription "This goose is on Shertz's Print," and the "MK" brand designating the Kramer Collection.

This exact decoy is also illustrated in Gard and McGrath’s Ward monograph in which they describe its “long notch or groove behind the head similar to the fathead design.” They also point out that “the bird has extraordinary detail carving on the head” and that “the goose is painted beautifully.” Indeed, Lem applied fine feathering and wing-tip detail.

Finding a Bishops Head goose is a true rarity for both the collector of Wards and collectors of all regions. In strong original paint with even gunning wear, working touch-up to bill tip chips, faint white paint spatter on back, and an age line at neck seam.

Provenance: Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection, acquired in 1976

Literature: Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "The Ward Brothers' Decoys: A Collector's Guide," Plano, TX, 1989, pp. 108-112, pl. 101, exact decoy illustrated. Glenn Lawson, "The Story of Lem Ward," West Chester, PA, 1984, p. 104, exact decoy illustrated. Loy S. Harrell Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest," Iola, WI, 2000, pp. 174-175, related example illustrated. Bob Ridges, "Decoy Ducks," New York, NY, 1988, p. 157, exact decoy illustrated. Lemuel T. Ward Jr. and Paul Shertz, "The Decoys of Lem and Steve Ward," printed by Phototype Engraving, Philadelphia, PA, 1978, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection, acquired in 1976