Nathan Cobb, Jr. Swimming Brant

Nathan Cobb Jr. (1825-1905) Cobb Island, VA, c. 1880 “The first Cobb decoys to come to the attention of serious collectors caused some confusion, since all decoys have regional characteristics and the Cobb decoys showed a form of construction that was identified with New England makers. This problem quickly resolves itself when we recall that the Cobbs were Yankees in a new home and simply reverted to the style of decoys made in Massachusetts… Perhaps the Cobbs had previous skill in boatbuilding; at any rate, they were determined to produce the best decoys possible, and their work excellently served the needs of both the nineteenth-century hunter and the modern collector.” -William J. Mackey, Jr. "American Bird Decoys"

One of the only comparables to this decoy is pictured on the cover of the 1983 Richard A. Bourne auction catalog for the Roy Bull (1911-1982) Decoy Collection. Bull was one of the earliest Southern collectors who collected masterworks such as the Ira Hudson (1873-1949) hooded merganser pair. Discussing Bull’s bird in the catalog, William H. Purnell, Jr. writes, “I always felt that Roy prized this as his favorite decoy. To me, it is the finest decoy in America today, bar none. Brave words--but let the decoy speak for itself.”

This decoy carries an impeccable provenance. It was originally in the collection of seminal decoy collector William J. Mackey, Jr. In 1965 the University Club of Milwaukee purchased it from Mackey, along with a small group of decoys. It remained in the club until going on display at the Midwest Decoy Collectors Association show in 1994. Later that year it was offered at public auction. The auction catalog’s authors wrote that collectors who viewed this bird felt it is “the finest Cobb brant in existence.” In the catalog it was illustrated six times, once on the front cover, and realized the top price for a decoy that year.

While demonstrating all of the bold features that define the Cobb style, this premier example reveals a subtle delicacy seldom seen in any Southern decoy. This hollow bird features a rare inletted root-head in an animated and turned swimming pose. The thin neck supports a slightly uplifted head with full cheek carving and inset German glass eyes within deep eye grooves. The body possesses bold shoulder carving and diamond-cut raised wingtips. The surface has developed an appealing bone-dry patina.

The underside retains its brass screws fastening the leather anchor loop and lead pad weight. The back left quarter is incised with Nathan Cobb, Jr.’s serifed “N.” In rare, dry, original paint with traces of possible overpaint on the rear white and even gunning wear.

Provenance: William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection University Club of Milwaukee Collection, acquired from the above, 1965 Private Collection

Literature: Guyette and Schmidt, Inc., “Important Waterfowl Decoys & Bird Carvings At Auction,” Ogunquit, ME, July 1994, lot 62, front cover, and pp. 18-19, exact decoy illustrated six times.

Jackson Parker, "The 1994 Year in Review," Decoy Magazine, Lewes, DE, 1995, front cover and p. 9, exact decoy illustrated.

Richard A. Bourne, Inc., “The Roy Bull Decoy Collection,” Hyannis, MA, March 1983, front cover, introduction, and lot 75, related example illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection University Club of Milwaukee Collection, acquired from the above, 1965 Private Collection