Jess Heisler Exceedingly Rare Sleeping Mallard Pair

Jess Heisler (1891-1943) Bordentown, NJ, c. 1920 An excellent and important sleeping pair from a river region dominated by straight-headed decoys. John English is credited with drawing up the region's pattern and setting an unsurpassed bar for quality. In his broad wake, Heisler seems to have introduced the sleeper to the region, with some later makers following his lead to the delight of collectors.

Along with their rarity, the well-executed carvings are among the maker's finest with thin tails, crisp primaries, and excellent paint, especially the feathering on the hen. The heads and bill are carefully inlayed into the three-piece hollow bodies. Excellent original paint with even gunning wear, a few age lines in heads, touch-up to chip in drake's left primary.

Provenance: Herb Wetanson Collection

Literature: H. Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, "Floating Sculptures: The Decoys of the Delaware River," Spanish Fork, UT, 1982, no sleepers by known early makers illustrated.

Provenance

Herb Wetanson Collection