Elmer Crowell Running Black Bellied Plover

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1910 An exceedingly rare and early Crowell museum quality shorebird carving exhibiting his transition from working shorebird decoys to mantle carvings. Similar to the golden plover from the same collection (lot 258), this carving displays Crowell's finest, dry, lightly blended paint with impasto. This rare running pose plover is situated on a fully carved clam shell base with a crisp oval brand and pencil written identification- "black breasted plover" on the bottom. A similar, but later, pattern used by Crowell for carving running plover can be seen in “The Songless Aviary” on plate 117. Exceptional original paint with the end third of the bill professionally restored by Gigi Hopkins, touch up to the thigh seams and to a minute wing tip chip.

Provenance: Purchased directly from the artist Private Collection, by descent in the family to the current owner

Literature: Brian Cullity, "The Songless Aviary," Hyannis, MA, 1992, p. 114.

Provenance

Purchased directly from the artist Private Collection, by descent in the family to the current owner