Lloyd Johnson Outstanding Wood Duck Pair

Lloyd Johnson (1910-1965) Bay Head, NJ, 1957 14 in. long

An exceptional pair of summer ducks with turned heads, carved wing detail, and very fine paint. The undersides of the hollow bodies are identified and signed by the maker. The drake is dated as well.

This rare pair was selected by Henry Fleckenstein for his "New Jersey Decoys" book, in which the author introduces Johnson as "a master carver who was born in Point Pleasant into a gunning and decoy making family. Lloyd made a few gunning birds for his own rig and for his friends in the 1950s and 1960s." In addition to his legacy as a highly accomplished mid-century carver with distinct style, Johnson is remembered as one of the great early collectors out of New Jersey, alongside William Mackey, Walter Bush, and Mort Hansen. Original paint with light wear, hen has very small chip to tip of tail.

Provenance: Chip Allsopp Collection Private Collection

Literature: Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "New Jersey Decoys," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 21 and pl. 356, exact pair illustrated.

Provenance

Chip Allsopp Collection Private Collection