Ward Brothers Mallard Hen

The Ward Brothers, Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, 1936

The Ward brothers were known to have made very few early mallard decoys. It was not until the 1940s that mallard populations began to proliferate along the Atlantic flyway. For this reason mallard decoys by famous east coast carvers like Joseph Lincoln (1859-1938) and Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) are almost non existent.

Few, if any, Ward mallards surpass this elegant lady in terms of form, paint, and condition. Illustrated in the 1977 book "Pioneer Decoy Carvers: A Biography of Lemuel and Stephen Ward" by Barry Berkey, this hen is virtually flawless. The flared bill of this decoy widens from three-quarters of an inch where the bill meets the face to nearly an inch-and-a-half at its widest part. The nostril is delicately carved all the way through and the bird's nail or “bean” at its tip is remarkably still intact.

Collected by famed Ward collector Knute Bartrug, it bears his stylized “KB” initials on the bottom along with his inventory number fifty-nine. The underside of the decoy retains traces of its original “Maker, L.T. Ward & Bro., Crisfield, MD” ink stamp towards the tail in addition to the makers' crisp “L.T. Ward- Bro, Crisfield, Md, -1936-“ ink signature. The paint application on the decoy reveals Lem’s intricate feather pattern along the flanks as well as the back. Lem took great pride in painting his hens, which more often than not surpass their male rigmates in regards to detail. Excellent dry original paint with even wear and an age line just above the neck seam.

Provenance: Knute Bartrug Collection Private Collection, acquired from the above c. 1990

Literature: Barry Berkey, "Pioneer Decoy Carvers: A Biography of Lemuel and Stephen Ward," Cambridge, MD, 1977, figure 13, p. 20, exact bird illustrated.

Provenance

Knute Bartrug Collection Private Collection, acquired from the above c. 1990