Joseph Lincoln Oversize Spear-rig Black Duck

Joseph W. Lincoln (1859-1938) Accord, MA, c. 1910 22 in. long

“Lincoln was a laconic man, a consummate Yankee craftsman whose solid-bodied decoys are reflections of their maker’s personality—direct and spare, with not a gesture wasted. Their clean, crisp lines and reductively abstract paint patterns capture the essentials of each species’ form and plumage with remarkable integrity and economy of means.” — Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America"

A special-order black duck made for a major patron. This decoy approaches Lincoln’s typical twenty-five-inch-long goose pattern in size. In addition to the bird’s grand scale, it also displays scalloped speculum paint, a sharp flared bill, and sculpted shoulder carving. Attesting to the rarity of this unrigged, near-mint example, Cap Vinal illustrates and features a related “EARLY ROUND HIGH HEAD-TACK EYES-NOTCHED BILL TIP-SCULPTURED WING SEPARATION-PARTIAL REPAINT” model in his book on the maker. Excellent original paint with minimal wear and Lincoln check in the bottom.

Provenance: Chester F. Spear Rig, acquired from the maker By descent in the Spear Family Private Collection

Literature: Cap Vinal, "Joseph W. Lincoln," Rockland, MA, 2002, p. 29, related decoy illustrated. Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Winter Sale 2019," Hingham, MA, lot 196, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Chester F. Spear Rig, acquired from the maker By descent in the Spear Family Private Collection