Chase Littlejohn Early Preening Green-winged Teal

Chase Littlejohn (1853-1943) Redwood City, CA, c. 1885 10 in. long

“A more interesting fellow than Chase Littlejohn has probably never existed.” This is the opening line to the carving legend’s chapter in “Wildfowl Decoys of California.” This early teal and its rigmates remain the only known Littlejohn decoys to have come to light. He is recognized as one of California's earliest makers.

Over 110 years ago, Littlejohn, a California native, was fascinating his contemporaries with his hunting and natural history adventures. "The San Francisco Sunday Call" ran a page 2 profile feature in 1909 titled “A Hunter of Rare and Unusual Game: Chase Littlejohn Has bagged Sea Otters in Japan, Big Game in Alaska & Strange Birds Everywhere.” Today, among decoy collectors, he is most remembered for his early and important green-winged teal rig.

The maker's avocations as a naturalist and a taxidermist clearly gave him the anatomical knowledge necessary to accurately carve this preening green-winged teal. The bird is in a deep preening pose with a refined bill resting back on the right wing. The carving is finished with detailed feathering, including combed vermiculation on the sides. The carving's rectangular weight is attached using about forty brass tacks. The underside of the hollow body also bears a tidy leather anchor line tie. Original paint with light wear.

Provenance: William C. McMaster M.D. Collection

Literature: Joe Engers, “Early California green-winged teal turn up at West Coast collectibles show,” Decoy Magazine, March/April 1997, p. 14, exact decoy illustrated. Michael R. Miller, "Wildfowl Decoys of California,” Spokane, WA, 2015, p. 358, rigmates illustrated. H. A. Crafts, "A Hunter of Rare and Unusual Game," The San Francisco Sunday Call, June 27, 1909, p. 2, rigmates illustrated.

Provenance

William C. McMaster M.D. Collection