Lothrop Holmes Canvas-covered Long-tailed Duck

Lothrop Turner Holmes (1824-1899) Kingston, MA, c. 1855 13 in. long

Those acquainted with the work of Lothrop Holmes come to expect a certain level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that is scarcely found elsewhere, and this long tail is no exception.

The head carving is done with an efficiency and sophistication that captures the nuances of the species. Some of its features include well-developed cheeks that rise to subtle eye grooves which meet at a sharp forehead that ascends to a broadened crown. The slightly upswept bill, with subtle nail carving, gives this bird one of the most pleasing attitudes of the entire rig. The body is constructed with canvas, fastened by copper tacks stretched over bent wooden slats. Dr. George Ross Starr summed up this bird’s rigmate saying, “Simple, light and above all beautiful - that was a Loth Holmes decoy.”

Gigi Hopkins, in Massachusetts Masterpieces, credits Holmes with innovating his decoy designs, “The carver also made undeniably cute, framed, canvas-covered oldsquaw – and if he was making these between the ages of 25 to 30, it dates them to the 1850s, making it fairly clear that Holmes invented this lightweight form.”

Inscribed on the bottom board “LOTHROP HOLMES KINGSTON, MASS.” Adding to the accolades of this bird, a rigmate was depicted on the 1980 Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp and print. This is an excellent example from the most celebrated rig of canvas decoys. Original paint with gunning wear and working touch-up to tail chip.

Provenance: Dr. George Ross Starr, Jr. Collection Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection

Literature: Laurence Sheehan, "The Sporting Life," New York, NY, 1992, p. 82, exact decoy illustrated. Paul A. Johnsgard, "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form," Lincoln, NE, 1976, p. 67, rigmate illustrated. George Ross Starr, Jr. M.D., "Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway," New York, NY, 1974, pp. 56-57, color plate 3, rigmate illustrated. Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp, 1980, rigmate illustrated. Jeff Waingrow, "American Wildfowl Decoys," New York, NY, 1985, pp. 66-67, rigmate illustrated. Rob Moir and Jackson Parker, "Massachusetts Waterfowl Decoys," The Magazine Antiques, September 1989, p. 524, plate XIII, rigmate illustrated. Peter Johnson and Alf Wannenburgh, “The World of Shooting,” Lausanne, Switzerland, 1987, pp. 259-261, exact decoy partially illustrated.

Exhibited: New York, New York, “The Art of the American Decoy: Folk Sculpture from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Donal C. O’Brien Jr.,” Museum of American Folk Art, September 3–November 8, 1981.

Provenance

Dr. George Ross Starr, Jr. Collection Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection