Louis Rathmell Black Duck

Louis C. Rathmell (1898-1974) Danbury, CT, 1941 A traditional cork-bodied decoy with an inset wooden tail and superbly detailed head. This bird comes from the maker's most famous rig and the underside bears his "1941, L. C. Rathmell" impressed inletted weight. Branded "TBL." The head is in original paint; the body is in old repaint with light gunning wear.

Provenance: Todd Lovell Collection

Literature: Henry C. Chitwood, "Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, p. 99, bottom weight of exact decoy illustrated. Joe Engers, ed., "The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys," San Diego, CA, 1990, p. 87, similar decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Todd Lovell Collection