Carriage House Rig Redhead Drake

Carriage House Rig Lacon, IL, c. 1890 13 in. long

This celebrated rig was found in a carriage house on the Ernest Lehmann estate, in Lake Villa, Illinois. Like other birds from this rig, the hollow construction is superb, this decoy's body seam remains perfectly tight and virtually invisible. The body is finished with stylish wing carving and paint patterns. The snaky head is turned to the right. Early working repaint with gunning wear and partially restored bill and some touch-up.

Provenance: Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection

Literature: 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," Boston, MA, 1973, Session I, lot 84, rigmate illustrated. Robert Boyle, "The Art of Deception" Audubon Magazine, May/June 2002, p. 47 exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection