Elmer Crowell "dusk Jacket" Rig Black-bellied Plover

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1910 A.E. Crowell’s “dust jacket” plovers have long been viewed by folk art and decoy collectors, not only as the gold standard for his working shorebirds, but amongst the finest gunning shorebird decoys ever created. The world record price for a single shorebird decoy was set in November of 2006 when a “dust jacket” plover was sold by Guyette and Schmidt, Inc. for $830,000. The coined term “dust jacket” plover arose from decoy collectors referencing the cover photographs of William J. Mackey, Jr.’s book American Bird Decoys that depicts three such birds, as well as John Delph’s New England Decoys that features a matched pair. Known for their animated forms, exceptional paint patterns, and beautifully recess-carved primaries, Crowell took tremendous care in carving these early rigs. He is believed to have made only two or three “dust jacket” plover rigs, with each rig most likely consisting of approximately one dozen decoys. The special gouge carving to the wing tips of these shorebird decoys is a feature that is virtually unseen in the maker’s work after 1920. A widely held belief is that the extra care taken in the painting and sculpting of these birds was simply too time consuming and hence Crowell abandoned the practice. The brief period during which he carved these animated working decoys was just prior to the passing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. The legal shooting of black-bellied plover was outlawed in 1928. Today, it is believed that only twelve to fifteen of the birds from these early rigs exist. Remarkably, most of the “dust jacket” plovers that survive, still retain their original paint; the theory being that even the hunter’s that used them appreciated Crowell’s craftsmanship and took added care with them in the field. The head is dramatically turned thirty-five degrees which is neatly balanced by curvaceous split tail carving. The eyes are made of early bead glass. This “dust jacket” rig plover was the top selling shorebird lot at auction in 1992. In excellent original paint; a few shot holes; a small dent near the stick hole; a very small rub to the head; a few minor rubs to the edges of the primaries. The bill is a very well done replacement.

Provenance: Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Literature: William J. Mackey, Jr., American Bird Decoys, New York, NY, 1965, color plate III, p. 64 and dust jacket. John and Shirley Delph, New England Decoys, Exton, PA, 1990, dust jacket. Joe Engers, ed., The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys, San Diego, CA, 1990, p. 53. Jeff Waingrow, American Waterfowl Decoys, New York, NY, 1985, pp. 90-91 and back cover. Jackson Parker, "The Decoy at Auction - The Year in Review" Decoy Magazine, Lewes, DE, 1992, p. 13, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts