Louis Rathmell High-head Black Duck Hen

Louis C. Rathmell (1898-1974) Danbury, CT, c. 1941 17 1/2 in. long

The maker’s refined head carving, dynamic poses, and exceptional scratch and feather paint place him in the ranks of Stratford’s finest carvers, alongside Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler. This black duck hen with a high and turned head and exquisite paint shows Rathmell at his best.

"...one of the best gunning rigs ever made." -Dixon Merkt Excellent original paint with even gunning wear, and a small repair to right bill tip.

Provenance: Louis Rathmell Rig Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection, acquired from the maker, c. 1962

Literature: Henry C. Chitwood, "Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, p. 98, exact decoy illustrated. Cliff Alexander, "Lou Rathmell: A Decoy Maker Who Lived in a Castle," Decoy Magazine, November/December 2015, p. 25 and front cover, rigmates illustrated. Peter Johnson and Alf Wannenburgh, “The World of Shooting,” Lausanne, Switzerland, 1987, pp. 259-261, exact decoy illustrated. Dixon Merkt, "Gentleman Carvers of Connecticut," ""The Clarion,"" Spring 1980, p. 50, rigmate illustrated.

Provenance

Louis Rathmell Rig Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection, acquired from the maker, c. 1962