Charles Hart Black Duck

Charles H. Hart (1862-1960) Gloucester, MA, c. 1920

This bold hollow-carved decoy with a pronounced breast displays carved bill detail and highly defined raised wings and primaries. The body of this decoy was hollowed out to one-half-inch thickness and no bottom board was applied, leaving it open. This unusual construction was designed to create a suction on calm gunning waters.

Warren Babson, M.D. of Gloucester, Massachusetts, acquired a rig of similar decoys from Hart, from which a pair of mallards went to the Dr. George Ross Starr Collection. This black duck is amongst the finest Hart decoys ever to come on the market. Outstanding original paint with even gunning wear.

Provenance: Private Collection

Literature: George Ross Starr, Jr., M.D., "Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway," New York, NY, 1974, p. 178, Figure 88, rigmates illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection