James Joseph Ahearn Flying Turkey

James Joseph Ahearn (1904-1963) Stamford, CT, c. 1950 16 1/2 in. long

A rare flying tom with an eighteen-inch wing span and brass mounting brackets on the back side. This carving is one of the finest Ahearn works to ever come on the market. It exhibits head, wing, and tail carving and meticulous feather paint detail. The underside of one bird also bears the maker's white-paper label.

In the 1930s, "Joe" Ahearn lived in the New York City area. He was a salesman for the National Cash Register Company and was known to have whittled small birds while on the road. At the onset of World War II, he and his wife moved to Stamford, Connecticut. During the war, Ahearn began to carve birds for the Sporting Gallery and Bookshop in New York City. After the war, he started carving for Crossroads of Sport in New York City as well. In near-mint condition.

Provenance: The Sam and Betty Pierce Collection, acquired from the Ahearn family

Provenance

The Sam and Betty Pierce Collection, acquired from the Ahearn family