Elmer Crowell Rare Willet

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1910 12 1/2 in. long

The rarity of Crowell’s willet decoys cannot be overstated and only a handful of decoys from this rig have ever surfaced. It is finished with Crowell’s well-executed blended paint and a two-tone painted tack eye. A rigmate resided in one of the nation’s top Crowell collections. Excellent original paint with light gunning wear, a replaced bill, minute nick to very tip of wing.

Provenance: Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts Private Collection, Massachusetts

Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, p. 164, related yellowlegs decoy illustrated, no willet decoys illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts Private Collection, Massachusetts