Shang Wheeler Rare Canvasback

Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler (1872-1949) Stratford, CT, c. 1920 16 1/2 in. long

Previously unknown to the collecting community, this canvasback was recently found in a Florida estate. The rarity of this Shang Wheeler canvasback cannot be overstated. Some of the only related examples have been collected by Donal O'Brien, the Shelburne Museum, Tom Evans, and Alan Haid. This hollow decoy features excellent bill and wing tip detail and is finished with strong vermiculated paint. Original paint with light gunning wear and some even craquelure mostly to head.

Provenance: Private Collection

Literature: David S. Webster and William Kehoe, "Decoys at Shelburne Museum," Shelburne, VT, 1961, p. 55, similar drake illustrated. Dixon MacD. Merkt, "Shang: A Biography of Charles E. Wheeler," Spanish Fork, UT, 1984, p. 145 and 177, related canvasbacks illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection