Nathan Rowley Horner The Mackey-carton Horner Mallard

Nathan Rowley Horner (1882-1942) West Creek, NJ, c. 1910 17 in. long

"He was much less prolific than Shourds, but his duck, brant, and goose decoys are among the most refined made on the New Jersey shore, with spare, elegant lines and subtly blended paint." — Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America"

This is quite possibly the most important New Jersey mallard to enter the auction market in this century. For the past seventy-five years, it has resided in the Carton family home after having been acquired from William J. Mackey Jr.

This decoy exhibits sleek lines and a thin neck and razor thin tail. The application and condition of the paint is among the very finest seen on any New Jersey decoy. It was never rigged, explaining its incredible condition. While any Horner puddle duck is coveted, this Mackey decoy is exceedingly rare with no comparables among the six later period mallards illustrated in Doherty's "Classic New Jersey Decoys." Looking further across New Jersey, one is hard-pressed to locate a superior mallard by any maker.

An exciting recent find, the Mackey-Carton Horner Mallard, with its clean lines, bright paint, and fine condition, place it amongst the best mallard decoys to come out of the region. Excellent original paint with even wear, rough edge to left side of tail and tight crack from tail into body and tight hairline crack in neck.

Provenance: William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Lawrence A. Carton Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, c. 1950 Peter Carton Collection, by descent from the above

Literature: James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, p. 107, Coen Collection early black duck illustrated, no early mallards illustrated. p. 39, Shourds mallard illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Lawrence A. Carton Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, c. 1950 Peter Carton Collection, by descent from the above