Ward Brothers "white Mallard Club" Pinch-breast Pintail

The Ward Brothers Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, c. 1932 18 3/4 in. long

“The Ward Brothers made pintails early on in their craft and they were made in a variety of designs and forms… There is no finer work done in decoys than that which is exhibited in the 1932 Pinched Breast Pintails, or the 1936 Classic Pintails.”

— Ronald Gard and Brian McGrath, "Ward Brothers’ Decoys", 1989

The Ward Brothers captured the likeness of species in their carvings as well as any decoy makers in history, and their White Mallard Gun Club rig of pinch-breast pintails are among their pinnacle works.

A rigmate is featured as the cover lot of Session IV of the "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys from the Collection of the late William J. Mackey Jr. of Belford, New Jersey." In the catalog, it was described as "one of the finest and best preserved examples of the Ward Brothers...one of the best Ward decoys ever made." Famed singer Andy Williams excited auction goers with his acquisition of that bird.

Decoys from this rig were hunted on the White Mallard Club’s freshwater marshes of the Butte Sink in California’s Sacramento Valley. In describing the White Mallard birds, Ward authorities Gard and McGrath state, “The design is considered the best in Ward pintails…” and further note that “the pintail was Lem Ward’s favorite bird and he shows this preference in the painting of his pintails.” Indeed, the lively and textured stippling on the sides and back of the drake is as good as seen on any decoy. The authors point out that “These decoys were originally bought from Abercrombie and Fitch,” which helps to explain not only their refinement, but their transcontinental journey as well.

This rare and distinctive style is associated with the 1932 model-year, and is obviously named for an eponymous feature of Steve Ward’s articulated form. This decoy displays all of the qualities that have made this rig the Ward’s most sought after. More subtle details include the S-curve of the sharp ridge running from the tip of the tail to the hump in the back, and the high, turned head finished with a pronounced crown. Along with the O’Brien pinch-breast pintails which set the world record for any Ward lot at auction and the Mackey-Williams pair, this Keegan Collection decoy with its slightly turned head sits at the apex of the Ward portfolio. Marking the rig, the underside bears the White Mallard’s horseshoe-shape weight imprint. Excellent original paint with even gunning wear, some touch-up to reset neck and to the fastener hole on the back of the head. Minor rub to tip of tail.

Provenance: White Mallard Gun Club, Butte Sink, California Jim Keegan Collection Thomas M. Evans Jr. Collection

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co. Inc., "Rare American Decoys & Bird Carvings," Hyannis, MA, August 1986, cover and lot 39, Andy Williams rigmate pair illustrated. Richard A. Bourne Co. Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys From the Collection of the late William J. Mackey Jr. of Belford, New Jersey," Hyannis, MA, Session IV, October 20, 1973, front cover and lot 283, Williams drake rigmate illustrated. Ronald J. Gard and Brian J. McGrath, "Ward Brothers’ Decoys: A Collector’s Guide," Wolf City, TX, 1989, pp. 57-63, Williams rigmate pair illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 203, Ward brothers discussed. Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys, Sessions III," Plymouth, MA, July 19, 2018, lot 33, rigmate pair illustrated.

Provenance

White Mallard Gun Club, Butte Sink, California Jim Keegan Collection Thomas M. Evans Jr. Collection