Charles Perdew Outstanding Mallard Drake

Charles Perdew (1874-1963) Henry, IL, c. 1920 An early, Illinois River decoy with Edna Perdew's finest swirl paint. These early examples with Edna's paint are highly coveted by collectors and showcase this husband and wife team at the top of their game. This hollow-carved mallard displays glass eyes, original surface, and a lead strip weight on the underside.

A nearly identical rigmate to this bird is prominently featured in the treatise on the maker, "Perdew: An Illinois River Tradition," by Ann Tandy Lacy. The book states: “John Linquest of DePue, Illinois initially owned this Mallard decoy. In the early 1970s Joe Tonelli borrowed several decoys from Linquist's rig for a small decoy show held in LaSalle, Illinois. At that time Linquist marked each decoy with an ‘x’ under the bill to assure that the same decoys would be returned to him.” This decoy is out of that group and bears Lindquest’s “x” mark under its bill. Original paint with light gunning wear.

Provenance: John Linquest Collection Private Collection.

Literature: Ann Tandy Lacy, "Perdew; An Illinois Tradition," Muncie, IN, 1993, p. 134, rigmate illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, p. 107, similar decoy illustrated. Donna Tonelli, "Fish and Fowl Decoys of the Great Lakes," Atglen, PA, 2002, pp. 139-140, similar decoys illustrated. Stephen O'Brien and Julie Carlson, "Masterworks of the Illinois River," Boston, MA, 2005, pp. 68- 69, similar decoys illustrated.

Provenance

John Linquest Collection Private Collection.