Charles Birch Swan

Charles Birch (1867-1956) Willis Wharf, VA, c. 1920 One of only a handful of these famous swan decoys made by this Eastern Shore carver. Born in Maryland and raised on Chincoteague, Birch moved to Willis Wharf at age thirty-nine where he was a boat builder, waterman and decoy carver. This swan is thought to be one of a famous rig of Birch decoys used in Cambridge, Maryland, on the Choptank River. It features a graceful head on a raised neck seat. As with all of his swans and geese, this bird has an inserted oak bill. Birch often hollowed out the top halves of his birds and left the bottom half solid to act as a ballast. Charles Birch swans have achieved nearly a cult status amongst decoy collectors, few if any makers made a more graceful design. His hollow patterned birds with proud breasts and sweeping arched necks have long captured the attention of folk art collectors. Swans were typically only made as confidence decoys, requiring only one or two per gunning rig. And most gunning rigs did not employ and swan decoys at all. In working re-paint, taken down to original paint with even craquelure. Typical age line in neck.

Provenance: Barbara Fleckenstein Collection Alan G. Haid Collection (acquired from the above in the early 1970’s) Roger Moore Collection Private Collection, North Carolina

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America", New York, NY, 2010, p. 213.

Provenance

Barbara Fleckenstein Collection Alan G. Haid Collection (acquired from the above in the early 1970’s) Roger Moore Collection Private Collection, North Carolina