Walter Tube Dawson Rare High-head Mallard Pair

Walter H. "Tube" Dawson (1882-1955) Putnam, IL, c. 1930 A rare pair of extremely high-head decoys with oversized bodies. In their book "Decoys: A North American Survey," Gene and Linda Kangas included a photo of these exact decoys and wrote that they, "were part of a special order for a dozen decoys... designed for use in high grass." Branded "Kangas" and stamped "MD2" and "MD13" on the bottom. Each is fifteen inches long and nearly ten inches high. Both are in original paint with some touch-up to flaking on breasts. The drake has a very old second coat on the underside and lower portion of the sides and has touch-up along a tight crack in the neck.

Provenance: Gene and Linda Kangas Collection Private Collection

Literature: Alan G. Haid, "Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway," Exton, PA, p. 168, exact decoys illustrated. Gene and Linda Kangas, "Decoys: A North American Survey," Spanish Fork, UT, 1983, p. 246, plate 377, exact decoys illustrated. Donna Tonelli, "Fish and Fowl Decoys of the Great Lakes," Atglen, PA, 2002, p. 108, exact decoys illustrated.

Provenance

Gene and Linda Kangas Collection Private Collection