Classic Hollow Carved Brant by Rhodes Truex, Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1920s. This Fine New Jersey Brant displays Good Original Paint with Minor Gunning Wear, Carved Eyes and Bill, and the Classic Inlaid Weight and Leather Thong. This Decoy is From the Nancy and Jack Conover Collection and is the Exact Decoy on pg. 102 bottom of Fleckenstein’s New Jersey Decoys (compare with image #4 on large images). Also see Gosner’s Working Decoys of the Jersey Coast and the Delaware Valley. Measurements: 18 ½” in length, 6 ¼” in width, and 8” in height. A Terrific Brant with a Good Provenance.

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SOLD

Raven’s Way is once again pleased to offer a New Sculptural Work – A Standing Breast Preening Black Duck Decoy – by Cameron McIntyre, New Church, Virginia, circa 2011. Carved in the Primitive Form of a “Contemporary Antique” Decoy, this decoy is Inspired by Canadian Black Ducks often Standing Along the Side of the Marsh and Preening. The Canadian influence is especially apparent in the two wooden legs that would position the decoy at the edge of the wetlands. Cameron always offers me something very special when I come down to Easton and this decoy is as exciting as the Sleeping Black Duck by Cameron that I sold last year. As a Collector and a Dealer, I am always in awe of the “Primitive Forms” that Cameron McIntyre creates. This particular Black Duck Decoy is made from One Piece of 200+ year old Northern Cedar (the legs and base are obviously separate), carved with Traditional Carving Tools, and “Aged” in a Manner Few can Achieve. Cameron asked me to note that the tight lines in the wood are original to the Cedar he used and were left in place as a part of the aging process. Measurements: 15" in length (front to back), 6" in width, and 14 1/2" in height. Please click on the “thumbnail” image to access an in-depth look at this Exceptional Work by Cameron McIntyre. A Rare Piece and Totally Fresh to the Market.

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SOLD

An Exquisite Crowell-Style Preening Canvasback Drake Decoy with Raised Wing Tips by Byron N. Bruffee, Middleborough, Massachusetts, circa 2011. This Wonderful Preening Canvasback was inspired by the Crowell Decoy featured in Loy Harrell’s book Decoys: North American’s One Hundred Greatest, pg.127. The Original is one of the More Outstanding Decoys made by Crowell in the Early 20^th Century, during his pre-brand period when he worked for Dr. Phillips. Bruffee’s carving captures many of the distinct feathers associated with Crowell’s best work: the Broad Body, Carved Primaries and Secondaries, Tail Carving, Chip Carving and Rasping, all these elements embellish the Turned Head Form. Add to this Bruffee’s Exceptional Wet-on-Wet Oil Painting techniques which measure up quite well to Crowell Stands. Measurements: 16” in length, 8” in width, and 8” in height. The Bottom is further inscribed with reference to: “Elmer / Joe / Keyes / Shang / (and the comment) What Stories and Lies We Have Missed” surrounding the Bottom Edge and the Bruffee “B”, the Date “3/11” and some Cattails and a Flying Bird. A Great Contemporary Piece.

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 Price $1250 plus shipping

Unknown Turned Head Black Duck Decoy from Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada, circa Early -  Mid-20^th Century. Back in the 1990s this Black Duck was purchased as a Decoy by Charles Buchanan from Smith Falls, Ontario. Later research and conversations with major Canadian collectors suggested that while there are Buchanan characteristics, it was probably made by another maker in Price Edward County, and some of these elements can be seen in decoys in Stewart’s The County. Nonetheless, the carver is still unknown to me. As for Condition, the Decoy displays a Nice High, Turned Head Form with a Clear Separation between the Head and the Bill plus distinct Tail Carving, appears to be Solid-Bodied, and shows Strong Original Paint with Good Scratch Painting. The Painting on the Body is quite heavy and probably has some material mixed in to avoid glare on the water; the Paint on the Head is much smoother and the apparent “scratch” painting appears “brushed.” The Paint also shows some crazing and minor gunning wear. The keel has been removed. The Decoy is 17” in length, 7” in width, and 8 ½” in height. A Great Display Piece.

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Price $950 plus shipping