James Holly Bluebill Drake

James T. Holly (1855-1935) Havre de Grace, MD, c. 1930 A Chesapeake Bay black head decoy from the rig of Langdon K. Thorne, a New York sportsman and philanthropist. Branded "L.K. Thorne" on the bottom and has its original rigging. In 1931, Langdon Thorne purchased a plantation on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for a sporting camp. Holly decoys were purchased for his rig at this Southern camp.

Original paint, with light gunning wear.

Provenance: Private Collection, Connecticut

Literature: C. John Sullivan, "The Hollys of Havre de Grace," Decoy Magazine, Lewes, DE, January / February 1992, p. 9 similar decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, Connecticut