Albert Laing Preening Bluebill Drake

Albert Davids Laing (1811-1886) New York, NY and Stratford, CT, c. 1855 12 1/2 in. long

A hollow turned-head decoy by the carver credited with being the founder of the "Connecticut School." An "F. BURRITT" rig brand is in the bottom of the decoy. Frank Burritt (1850-1928) was the Commodore of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club and his gunning rig contained many Laing and Holmes decoys. In working Wheeler paint, with gunning wear, age lines, and a reset bill chip.

Provenance: Albert D. Laing Rig Beers Family Rig Francis Burritt Rig William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Ronald S. Swanson Collection, acquired from the above in 1968

Literature: William J. Mackey, Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 68, pl. 48, misidentified rigmate illustrated. Henry C. Chitwood,"Connecticut Decoys," West Chester, PA, 1987, p. 28 and dust jacket, rigmates illustrated. Ronald S. Swanson, "Albert D. Laing: A decoy maker unequaled in his time," Decoy Magazine, Burtonsville, MD, July/August 1995, pp. 14 and 16, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Albert D. Laing Rig Beers Family Rig Francis Burritt Rig William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Ronald S. Swanson Collection, acquired from the above in 1968