Ward Brothers The Purnell-aitken Ward Preening Curlew

Lemuel T. Ward (1896-1984) Crisfield, MD, 1953 11 1/4 in. tall

This important Ward carving was collected by noted author, sportsman, marksman, and philanthropist Russell B. Aitken. The Christie's catalog for the Aitken Collection auction relays: "According to Bill Purnell, Lem Ward made this curlew in 1953 from a picture he saw that Lynn Bogue Hunt did for Dupont. Reproduced in Van Campen Heilner's 'Our American Game Birds' Doubleday Doran & Co., 1941." This rare Crisfield decorative was carved from balsa and is signed "Lem Ward 1953" on the underside of the driftwood base. Original paint with light wear and a very tight age line at neck seam.

Provenance: William H. Purnell Jr. Collection Russell Aitken Collection Private Collection

Literature: Christie's, "The Russell B. Aitken Collection of Waterfowl Decoys," New York, NY, 2003, lot 1267.

Provenance

William H. Purnell Jr. Collection Russell Aitken Collection Private Collection