Wendell Smith Mallard Pair

Wendell Smith Chicago, IL, c. 1940 A folky mallard pair with pronounced bills, eye grooves, and cut-cheek carving. The hen is in fine original paint with pleasing patina, even craquelure, a slight body seam separation and a few age lines along the back. The drake is in original paint with some working touch-up, head has been reset with a chip missing. Body seam has been glued.

Literature: Paul W. Parmalee and Forrest D. Loomis, "Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois," DeKalb, IL, 1969, pp. 182-184, plate 137 and 138.