John Blair, Sr. Wigeon Drake

John Blair, Sr. (1843-1929) (attr.) Elkton, MD, c. 1910 One of the most refined upper bay wigeon decoys to come on the market. The body shows two-piece construction.

According to Bruce Williams in his Delaware River chapter in The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys, "John Blair was a prosperous carriage maker outside Philadelphia until about 1900 when, at age 58, he retired and moved to a big spread in Elkton, Maryland. He became a gentleman farmer and sportsman, hunting and fishing in the Elk River and North to Andalusia, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River." Excellent original paint with gunning wear and a hairline crack in neck.

Provenance: Private Collection, Maryland

Literature: Rafael Osona and Stephen B. O'Brien, Jr., "Public Auction: Important Waterfowl and Shorebird Decoys," Nantucket, MA, 1993, p. 29 and back cover, lot 108, exact decoy illustrated.

Joe Engers, ed., "The Great Books of Wildfowl Decoys," San Diego, CA, 1990, pp. 124-135.

Provenance

Private Collection, Maryland