Elmer Crowell Grouse

A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1920 An exceedingly rare, life-size, upland game bird with carved bill detail, a carved crest, raised neck ruff feathers, and outstanding blended feather detail. One of only a handful of ruffed grouse that Crowell is believed to have carved in his lifetime. Of the three most commonly carved upland and lowland game birds, the quail, woodcock, and ruffed grouse, the grouse is by far the hardest to come by from this maker. This intricate chip-carved base has a root burl with small pine cones on the top and the maker's oval brand lightly burned in the bottom.

A similar ruffed grouse carving mounted on a burl root was made for Dr. John Cunningham, one of Crowell's earliest patrons.

In original paint with touch-up to tail feathers, ruff, tip of crest, and bill.

Provenance: Private Collection, Chatham, Massachusetts Private Collection

Literature: Brian Cullity, "The Songless Aviary: The World of A. E. Crowell & Son," Hyannis, MA, 1992, p. 86, plate 53, similar bird illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, Chatham, Massachusetts Private Collection