Ward Brothers Early Bluebill

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, 1920 14 1/2 in. long

A "fat jaw" scaup with a turned head, hollow body, and carved wing detail. The body is hollow, which is rare for Ward decoys. This early carving was featured on Jack R. Schroeder's 1981 Plate I Ward Bros. Series print. The print also includes a poem titled "The Drifter" written by Steve Ward and a 1926 Ward pintail (lot 257 in this sale). The bluebill's underside bears Lem's signature and the inscription "L. T. Ward Bros. Crisfield, MD. 1920 / Made in 1926 / Repainted 1969," the Kramer Collection ink stamp, and Schroeder's signature and his inscription "Model for My Plate I of My Ward Series Paintings." Second coat of paint by Lem in 1969.

Provenance: Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection

Literature: Glenn Lawson, “The Story of Lem Ward,” West Chester, PA, 1984, p. 22, 117, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection