Ben Schmidt Mallard Hen

Benjamin Schmidt (1884-1968) Centerline, MI, c. 1930 15 1/2 in. long

Many believe Ben Schmidt hen mallards to be amongst the maker's finest carvings. Lowell Jackson, the leading authority on the maker, chose a closely related later hen for the cover of his publication, "Benjamin J. Schmidt: A Michigan Decoy Carver, (1884-1968)."

"Waterfowl Decoys of Michigan and the St. Clair Region" includes a chapter dedicated to Schmidt. In the opening spread across from a full-page detail of mallard hen, William J. Mackey Jr. writes the following: "Ben Schmidt made a virile, husky, working decoy; the kind a knowing hunter felt confident to be shooting over...Two dimensional pictures simply do not do justice to his decoys...the overall effectiveness of his skill gave duck hunters just about the closest thing to the all-American working decoy...His work has earned a place in the annals of American folk art." This elegant Schmidt has a slightly turned head and refined bill carving. Original paint with even gunning wear, minor gunning touch-up to rubs on top of head.

Provenance: Len Carnaghi Collection

Literature: Clune Walsh Jr. and Lowell G. Jackson, "Waterfowl Decoys of Michigan and the Lake St. Clair Region," Detroit, MI, 1983, pp. 80-83, Schmidt discussed and related mallards illustrated. Lowell Jackson, ed., “Ben J. Schimdt: A Michigan Decoy Carver, 1884-1968,” Birmingham, MI, 1970, front cover, related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Len Carnaghi Collection