John English High-head Pintail Drake

John English (1848-1915) Florence, NJ, c. 1880 16 in. long

English’s eminence as the "father" of the Delaware River school of carving is documented by virtually every authority from the region. Robert “Bob” White describes English as “the ultimate Delaware River carver.” Author Kenneth L. Gosner notes, “The work of John English set a standard against which other Delaware River makers have been measured and compared ever since. Indeed, for many collectors, the English style is the Delaware River style.”

English was in complete command of his artistry when creating this hollow decoy, which exhibits refined features, from the thin bill and high neck to the precise raised wing-tip carving that marks the region’s style. This early work is one of the few English decoys that relates closely to the Delaware River’s masterwork, the O’Brien English pintail, which holds the regional record at $246,000.

The underside bears a "J.D. PERKINS” brand, which is partly obscured by a lead pad weight. The Perkins rig is known for having included a number of English’s best surviving forms. Early working paint with even gunning wear, an upper neck crack, and a chipped tail.

Provenance: J.D. Perkins Rig Jim Stokes Rig Peter Bartlett Collection Trenton Spolar M.D. Collection

Literature: Harrison H. Huster and Doug Knight, "Floating Sculptures: The Decoys of the Delaware River," Spanish Fork, UT, 1982, p. 61, related low-head example illustrated. Guyette, Schmidt & Deeter, "North American Decoys at Auction,” St. Charles, IL, 2013, lot 563, exact decoy illustrated. Allen Linkchorst, “John English,” Decoy Magazine, March/April 2000, front cover and pp. 8-12, O'Brien English pintail illustrated.

Provenance

J.D. Perkins Rig Jim Stokes Rig Peter Bartlett Collection Trenton Spolar M.D. Collection