John English Canvasback Pair

John English (1848-1915) Florence, NJ, c. 1890 15 in. long

A stylish pair of hollow upper Delaware River decoys by the region's top maker. Regional authority and decoy maker Robert “Bob” White describes English as “the ultimate Delaware River carver” and author Kenneth L. Gosner notes, “The work of John English set a standard against which other Delaware River makers have been measured and compared ever since. Indeed, for many collectors, the English style is the Delaware River style.” In repaint with gunning wear, including a line through top of hen's head and the drake has a bill tip restoration.

Provenance: Herb Wetanson Collection

Literature: Kenneth L. Gosner, "Working Decoys of the Jersey Coast and Delaware Valley," Cranbury, NJ, 1985, pp. 89-91. Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, "Floating Sculpture: The Decoys of the Delaware River," Spanish Fork, UT, 1982.

Provenance

Herb Wetanson Collection