Mason Decoy Factory The Haid Mason Dust-jacket Swan

Mason Decoy Factory (1896-1924) Detroit, MI, c. 1910 26 1/2 in. long, 21 1/2 in. tall.

This exceedingly rare premier-grade swan exhibits Mason’s best head carving, a high humped back, and “kick-up tail.” It retains exceptional paint with an appealing surface. The underside is fitted with a round lead-pipe weight.

This decoy was first discovered on Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay in the 1960s. It was then exhibited on long-term loan for twenty years at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, also on the Chesapeake Bay.

The bird left the museum and Alan Haid, a leading Mason dealer, acquired this swan in the parking lot of a decoy show. The bird went on to rest prominently by a fireplace in his Connecticut decoy room. Given its rarity and outstanding condition, it was next chosen by Haid and Goldberger for the dust-jacket covers of the “Expanded” and “Updated” editions of their Mason Decoys books. With its provenance and accolades many consider it to be the finest Mason swan decoy to have survived. Old gunning paint with moderate wear, a crack along the underside, and age line along the right side. Under the appealing craquelure paint, a chip to the top of tail was smoothed by a gunner.

Provenance: Discovered in a Smith Island, Maryland waterman's shack in the 1960s Donald J. Federroll Collection, Maryland The Alan and Elaine Haid Collection, acquired from the above Private Collection, acquired from the above

Literature: Russ J. Goldberger and Alan Haid, "Mason Decoys: Expanded Edition,” Lewes, DE, 2014, back dust-jacket cover, exact decoy illustrated. Russ J. Goldberger and Alan Haid, "Mason Decoys: Updated Edition,” Lewes, DE, 2014, back dust-jacket cover and p. 154, exact decoy illustrated. Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, "The Canvasback," Fall 1994, p. 18, exact decoy illustrated.

Exhibited: Havre de Grace, Maryland, Havre de Grace Decoy Museum

Provenance

Discovered in a Smith Island, Maryland waterman's shack in the 1960s Donald J. Federroll Collection, Maryland The Alan and Elaine Haid Collection, acquired from the above Private Collection, acquired from the above