Lee Dudley Outstanding Canvasback Drake

Lee Dudley (1860-1942) Knott's Island, NC, c. 1890

Dudley decoys have been held in the highest regard by collectors from the earliest days of decoy collecting. In fact, two seminal books on decoy collecting, William J. Mackey’s "American Bird Decoys" and Joel Barber’s "Wild Fowl Decoys" both begin their first chapter with stories of Dudley decoys and the authors reverence for them. Barber's particular love of Dudley decoys is illustrated in the first three plates of his book, the first of which depicts two Dudley decoys prominently displayed top and center on a collection wall. In 1981 a panel of experts reviewing the decoy collection at the Shelburne Museum declared these Dudley decoys of Barbers to be the best of the collection.

This decoy is one of the finest examples of a Dudley canvasback ever to be offered. It is believed to have been made as part of a rig for one of the members of the Dudley’s Island Club which was owned by Lee’s twin brother, Leonard. With a long graceful body, sharp “V” wing carving, this bird also has sophisticated head carving with a highly refined bill, high crown, full cheeks and glass eyes. William J. Mackey, Jr. in his book “American Bird Decoys,” was so impressed with Dudley's work that he wrote “the heads on Dudley’s decoys are the finest the writer has ever seen.” (Plate 140)

This rare example carries solid provenance and is in excellent condition by Dudley standards. These two points cannot be overstated when considering Dudley decoys. The provenance leads directly from the William J. Mackey, Jr. collection to the Harry P. Megargee, Jr. collection where it has been passed down through the family. It was illustrated in the July/August 1988 issue of Decoy Magazine for winning ‘Best in Show’ among other awards at the Mid-Atlantic Wildfowl Festival in Virginia Beach. Joe French illustrated this exact decoy in the Megargee Collection as part of his Decoy Magazine series “Early Decoy Days.” (March/April 2005.)

Though it is likely that Lee Dudley made hundreds of decoys over the course of his career, it is believed that only a few dozen unadulterated carvings remain today. Misleading representations of Dudley decoys have occurred through various means since the earliest days of collecting. The most common alterations have come in the forms of Dudley decoys with replaced bills, heads, and bodies. Because of their early origins and refined features, most Dudley decoys lost their bills, heads, or were destroyed entirely.

The Dudley decoy has always been known for its bold singular form and this carving exemplifies all of the desirable attributes one would look for. To draw from Gene and Linda Kangas’ "Decoys: A North American Survey,“ "A visual study of the complete Dudley bird form, whatever the species, reveals an uninterrupted flow from bill tip to tail’s end. The successful manner in which the bill fits into the lower cheeks, the cut of the neck-base, sweeping powerful chest, and smooth, curved body combine into one of the finer sculptural solutions in the decoy world...The Dudley carving style consistently depicts both the head and body forms as a totality, resulting in a fine sculptural portrait…”

The underside of the bird retains the original weight and a faint brand that appears to be “F R.," possibly for Frank Reese from Currituck, North Carolina. The form, execution, rarity, and provenance of this canvasback place it among the finest North Carolina decoys to ever be offered for sale at auction. Mix of original and working paint with heavy gunning wear. Reset neck is missing a nail, old one-half-inch spot of putty on back of head.

Provenance: William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Megargee Collection (acquired in the early 1960s from the above)

Literature: Dick McIntyre, “The Dudley Decoy,” Decoy Magazine, Burtonsville, MD, March/April 1994, cover story, pp. 8-14. Henry A Fleckenstein, Jr., "Southern Decoys of Virginia and the Carolinas," Exton, PA, 1983, pp. 215-219. Joel Barber, "Wild Fowl Decoys," New York, NY, 1954, pp. 1-5, plates 1-3. Gene and Linda Kangas, “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Spanish Fork, UT, 1983, pp. 3-4, color plate 1, similar decoy illustrated. William J. Mackey, Jr., “American Bird Decoys.” New York, 1965, pp. 168-170. Joe Engers, ed., “’Old Decoys’ Compete for Ribbons,” Decoy Magazine, Ocean City, MD, July/August 1988, p. 29 exact decoy illustrated. Joe French, “Early Decoy Days: Traveling Man,” Decoy Magazine, Lewes, DE, March/April 2005, p 25, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Megargee Collection (acquired in the early 1960s from the above)