Ira Hudson Miniature Mallard Drake

Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949) Chincoteague, VA, c. 1930 4 1/2 in. long

A rare and exceptional four-and-one-half-inch-long carving with the maker's signature football-shaped round body and long and thin tail. Hudson was not a prolific maker of miniature decoys. Ever industrious, he produced groups of them over his lunch breaks during a two-year stint working at a boatyard. Stansbury selected this petite carving of a decoy for his monograph on the maker. Hudson produced few mallard carvings either large or small, making this "tiny gem" all the more desirable. Original paint with minor wear, including bill tip and tail edge.

Provenance: Henry H. Stansbury Collection Lloyd R. Hudson Collection, grandson of the maker Private Collection

Literature: Henry H. Stansbury, "Ira D. Hudson and Family," Lewes, DE, 2002, p. 157, exact bird illustrated.

Provenance

Henry H. Stansbury Collection Lloyd R. Hudson Collection, grandson of the maker Private Collection