John Blair, Sr. Mallard Hen
John Blair Sr. (1843-1929) Philadelphia, PA, c. 1870
The catalog record
John Blair Sr. (1843-1929) Philadelphia, PA, c. 1870 17 in. long
A rare mallard showing the classic John Blair Sr. form and paint. The underside of the hollow body is stamped with a "JE" rig marking, as is the Blair teal, also offered in this auction (lot 108). It also has an excellent chamfered lead pad weight. Original paint with even gunning wear and touch-up around each eye. Nails on lower breast have expanded to cause a few cracks.
Provenance: Pasquale "Babe" Sabatini Collection
Literature: H. Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, "Floating Sculptures: The Decoys of the Delaware River," Spanish Fork, UT, 1982, pp. 36-39, rigmate illustrated.
Provenance
Pasquale "Babe" Sabatini Collection
Comparable sales
The 2 most recent John Blair, Sr. Mallards to cross the block.
| Sold | Condition | Paint | Brought |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 2026 | Excellent | Original | $240,000 |
| 7 Sep 2024 | — | — | $570 |
Same maker and species, most recent first. Prices include the buyer's premium. All John Blair, Sr. sales