Elmer Crowell The Chace Crowell Curlew

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1922 12 1/4 in. tall

A rare and early shorebird mantle carving in a stately upright pose with a turned head. Chace acquired this carving as the top lot in Richard A. Bourne Company’s August 1970 auction. It may have been a world record for any decoy maker at the time. Bourne identified it as an “extremely rare life-size Eskimo Curlew…a very great rarity.” Indeed, this yellowlegs-sized carving measures twelve-and-one-half inches from the tip of the bill to the tail, in contrast to his Hudsonian curlew which measure up to seventeen inches. See lot 34 for Mrs. Chace's Crowell painting featuring the two curlew species.

A closely related example is held in the Thomas M. Evans Jr. Collection. That bird hailed from the collection of Crowell patron George Abercrombie Spaulding. The Spaulding family owned much of Cuttyhunk Island, similar to their friends the Chaces, who owned Great Island.

This decorative exhibits Crowell's mastery of the carved wooden bird and his finest blended painted surface representing the plumage. The maker's oval brand is on the bottom of the base. Outstanding original paint with some craquelure, mostly to end grain on breast. Some chipping to thigh and knee putty and some old restoration to toes. Minor ding to left shoulder.

Provenance: Evelyn Thayer Chace Collection, acquired 1970 Private Collection, by descent from the above

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co. Inc., "Public Auction of Rare American Decoys, Bird Carvings, Miniatures, and Related Items." Hyannis, MA, August, 1970, lot 213, exact decoy illustrated. Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, pp. 145, 147, and back boards, closely related curlew illustrated.

Provenance

Evelyn Thayer Chace Collection, acquired 1970 Private Collection, by descent from the above