Elmer Crowell The Du Pont Crowell Mallard Drake

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1912 16 in. long

This bold drake decoy was acquired from Crowell by Eugène E. du Pont and remained with his family for over a century. Today, it survives in exceptional condition; while it was made as a decoy, it was never rigged for hunting. The form, paint, condition, and provenance of this rare decoy place it among Crowell’s very best of this species. When this decoy was carved, mallards were not as prevalent along the Atlantic Flyway, as is evidenced by their scarce representation as decoys up and down the East Coast around the turn of the 20th century.

The pronounced breast sweeps to a drawn-back head that turns sharply to the right. The head has crisp, rasped finishing, deep eye grooves, and pronounced bill detail. The body is finished with his excellent wet-on-wet feather blending. The long sweeping body was finished with carved tail feathers. The underside bears Crowell’s crisp oval brand, denoting an early strike from around 1912. Like Harry V. Long’s incomparable preening goose, Crowell has painted right up to the edges, but not within the brand. Original paint with light wear, hairline crack in neck has been reset.

Provenance: Eugène E. du Pont Collection, acquired directly from Crowell Private Collection, by descent from the above Private Collection

Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, p. 35, later drake illustrated, p. 37, early hen illustrated. John Clayton, “Massachusetts Masters: Decoys, Shorebirds, and Decorative Carvings Exhibition Catalog,” The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, 2010, p. 85, related drake illustrated.

Provenance

Eugène E. du Pont Collection, acquired directly from Crowell Private Collection, by descent from the above Private Collection