Lee Dudley Canvasback Drake

Lee Dudley (1860-1942) Knotts Island, NC, c. 1890 12 1/2 in. long

Dudley decoys have been held in the highest regard by acquisitors of all regions from the earliest days of decoy collecting. In fact, two of the seminal books on decoy collecting, William J. Mackey’s "American Bird Decoys" and Joel Barber’s "Water Fowl Decoys," both begin their first chapters with stories of Dudley decoys and the authors’ reverence for them. Barber's particular love of Dudley decoys is further illustrated in the first three plates of his book, the first of which depicts two Dudley carvings prominently displayed top and center on a wall of his decoys. In 1981 a panel of experts reviewing the decoy collection at the Shelburne Museum declared a Dudley of Barber’s to be the best of the museum’s collection.

This lot is one of the finest examples of a Dudley ever to come to light and was made for Dudley’s personal gunning rig. The canvasback decoys from this rig represent some of the earliest Dudley carvings. They can be distinguished by their smooth humpbacks, painted eyes, and stylishly carved high-crowned heads. This decoy, along with other birds from this famous rig, bears Dudley’s original “LD” brand on the bottom. According to Barber, Lee Dudley recounted to him that “…in 1913 the whole Dudley rig had been sold to a [Knotts Island] club at the then prevailing price of fifty cents apiece.” This transfer of ownership is evident in the partial obscuring of Dudley’s rig brand on the underside.

The Dudley decoy has always been known for its bold, singular form. This carving retains the desirable attributes that astute Dudley collectors look for, including an original head, bill, and tail.

“A visual study of the complete Dudley bird form,” write Gene and Linda Kangas, “whatever the species, reveals an uninterrupted flow from bill tip to tail’s end. The successful manner in which the bill fits into the lower cheeks, the cut of the neck-base, sweeping powerful chest, and smooth, curved body combine into one of the finer sculptural solutions in the decoy world...The Dudley carving style consistently depicts both the head and body forms as a totality, resulting in a fine sculptural portrait.”

Muller acquired this decoy, along with a Cobb swimming goose, from Tony Waring at the time of the Mackey auctions, circa 1973. Several years later, this exact decoy was selected to be the logo bird for the Mid-Atlantic Waterfowl Festival. Subsequently, that logo has been used by the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum in Virginia Beach.

The form, provenance, rarity, and condition of this Knotts Island canvasback elevate it to a museum-quality level, positioning it as one of the best Southern decoys to ever be offered at auction. In excellent condition by Dudley standards, old gunning paint with heavy wear, including a crack in the neck.

Provenance: Lee Dudley Rig A Knotts Island gunning club rig, acquired from the above, 1913 Tony Waring Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, circa 1973

Literature: Kroghie Andresen, "Gunnin' Birds," Charlotte, NC, 2008, p. 82, exact decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "Southern Decoys of Virginia and The Carolinas," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 50, color pl. XLVI, exact decoy illustrated. Joe Engers, “Dr. Peter J. Muller: Bringing a good eye and an artistic approach to decoy collecting,” Decoy Magazine, January/February 2008, p. 9, exact decoy illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 169, rigmate illustrated. Joel Barber, "Wild Fowl Decoys," New York, NY, 1954, pp. 1-5, pl. 1-3, related example illustrated. Gene and Linda Kangas, “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Spanish Fork, UT, 1983, pp. 3-4, color pl. 1, related decoy illustrated. Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 1, related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Lee Dudley Rig A Knotts Island gunning club rig, acquired from the above, 1913 Tony Waring Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, circa 1973