The drake is illustrated in the book new england decoys by john and shirley. Ward brothers decoys can be generally categorized into five carving periods. So for ward brothers decoys we see that earlier examples, all else being equal, may be more desirable. Ward brothers duck decoys for sale at online auction bid. Competitive prices of ward brothers decoys and other related products. It consists of a twostory, twobay, oneroom plan frame dwelling built around 1880, and the brothers barber shop, a composite building composed of individual structures grouped together behind a long false front.
Details about timeless treasures ward brothers decoys book ward museum salisbury maryland. The white mallard consists of 969 acres, about 90% of which is dedicated to wetland habitat. Rare factory pattern of a ward style decoy by tj hooker of crystal lake illinois. Known as avid hunters and sportsmen, its said their close observations of birds helped make their decoys. Has a great ward brothers hen shovler on the front cover. Ward brothers canvasback duck decoy vintage crisfield maryland ca. The winter sale 2016 copley fine art auctions issuu. Vintage antique old wooden early working ncva duck decoy.
Find out how much the chincoteague native means to the carving community. Each museumquality ward brothers framed print may be customized with hundreds of different frame and mat options. Even though many were unsigned, it was easy to identify a ward decoy. The ward brothers house and shop was listed on the national register of historic places in 1997. The wards appear to have maintained a relationship with the club, providing additional decoys and maintenance to the rig over time. The ward brothers are among the most celebrated of the chesapeake bayarea carvers. Ward brothers duck decoys once barbers by trade, the ward brothers became worldrenowned decoy carvers in the 20th century, creating thousands of pieces in their chrisfield, maryland workshop. Our team has dug up a varied group of items at a range of prices. As the painter, it was lem who made the wards famous, also perhaps because he lived longer, and because of idas lovelytoread biography, the story of lem ward. Pair of ward brothers bishops head wigeon decoys, one male and one female, sold by copley fine art auctions, boston, feb. Ward turned folk art into fine art and contributed greatly to the heritage of the eastern shore of the majestic chesapeake bay. Lem and steve ward were known through out the area for their counterfeiters in wood. Illustrated with 72 black and white plates of the ward brothers carvings and 16 color plates of their carvings.
An excellent copy by tuts of his close friends and mentors, lem and steves most sought after style. It has been out of print since the early eighties but still host a world of information not in other books. Drake pictured in color in fleckensteins classic book decoys of the midatlantic and also on dust jacket. Yet the ward brothers, being among the first to initiate the transition from a working decoy to a highly decorative bird, in a sense, led the way toward ornamental carving.
Pair of rare ward brothers widgeon decoys sold for. Finding a golden goose in a duck decoy outdoors and. Aug 18, 2007 syracuse ap lyman ward, the last of four brothers whose story was featured in the awardwinning 1992 documentary brothers keeper after one brother was charged with murdering another. Of the numerous goose patterns produced by the ward brothers. Ward brothers rejects, hired a black carver, and sold decoys by the barrel. The top decoy in the sale was a museum quality humpbackstyle pintail hen produced by the ward brothers. Identified, signed, and dated 1967 in the underside. The item youve selected was not added to your cart. Ward brothers decoys for sale wooden decoy collection. Bluebill by the ward brothers of crisfield, maryland, ca. Canvasback drake, ward brothers, crisfield, maryland, dated 1973.
Many of the books we stock are out of print and hard to find. The ward brothers decoys, a collectors guide, 1989, op. Raines tavern decoys, folk art,collectibles,antiquessold. Local decoy carvers are mourning the loss of legendary carver cigar daisey.
Decoys that were made to be hunted over usually have more value, and then wed have to consider overall condition, surface and type of bird, since they made more of some than of others. Nice size with 55 pages with hundreds of nice color photos and decoy history info. The ward brothers father was a barber who carved decoys on the side. By the 1940s, the brothers were earning some money, and in 1948 won best in show, with a sleeping mallard, in the 11th new york decoy show. Ferguson, secessionville manor, charleston, sc additional highresolution photos are available at. A related decoy is featured in the hundred greatest book. Museum programs bring people of all ages together through exploration of.
Shooting stool model with slightly turned bull neck. The ward museum of wildfowl art on marylands eastern shore. Drake pintail in the crisfield style made in 1961 by then 40 year old charles joiner from betterton, md. They operated a barber shop, but carved decoys from discarded telephone poles between haircuts and shaves. Museum programs bring people of all ages together through exploration of art, nature and tradition. You are bidding on a tj hooker ward brothers style canvasback decoy, oneofakind signed factory pattern estate attic find. Timeless treasures ward brothers decoys book ward museum salisbury maryland. Lem and steve, both born in the mid1890s, followed that tradition. North carolina decoys and gunning lore by william neal conoley, jr. Bluebill drake, ward brothers, crisfield, maryland. Starr mallard hen decoy, the ward brothers by copley fine art. These signatures vary in form from a simple printed l.
Known as avid hunters and sportsmen, its said their close observations of birds helped make their decoys very realistic. Timeless treasures ward brothers decoys by the ward museum. A signed and numbered limited edition print titled the ward bros. In part one of painting a canvasback, ward style, ill be demonstrating how i paint a 1936 ward canvasback. Raines tavern decoys, folk art,collectibles,antiquessold items. A biography of two of the best and most interesting of the old time decoy makers.
Buy ward brothers framed prints from our community of independent artists and iconic brands. Duck decoys in the first session included a rare rigmate pair of mergansers by maine carver oscar bibber that retained the original paint and horsehair crests. The ward museum is a cherished part of its local community on the eastern shore of maryland and far beyond. Many are out of print but available through mdca member dealers and online sources. Early model best grade canvasback decoy pair by the ward brothers, crisfield, md. Soon the brothers were known throughout the area for their fine hunting decoys. Ward brothers carved niched in art world for wildfowl decoys.
Of the numerous goose patterns produced by the ward brothers, the bishops head gun club model is the most popular. Dec 05, 2006 the decoy established a record price paid at auction not only for nathan cobb, but also for a virginia decoy. Krogie andresen gunnin birds decoys of the back black bay, virginia, currituck sound, dare county in north carolina, 2008. Most ward decoys in collections and practically all of their decorative carvings have been signed by one or both of the brothers. This 1987 factory proof with an unusualtjh branded on the base is hand signed by hooker. May 01, 2017 local decoy carvers are mourning the loss of legendary carver cigar daisey. Many private hunting clubs had came into existence on the chesapeake bay, some within 15 miles of crisfield. Circa 1948, signed and marked best grade on bottom of each. For most, decoy carving was a sideline, not a profession.
Although the ward brothers are no longer with us, their legacy lives on. Id face year expires subjectartist catval mint purchase info mint wbdc1 1983. Theres little wonder why the chesapeake bay region is known as the cradle of american decoy carving. The decoy is about 16 long by about 6 12 wide, it has the original keel and bears the old saybrook brand on the bottom as pictured. Lem ward was born september 19, 1896, in the crisfield, maryland, region of chesapeake bay. Sometime around 1915 these two brothers began carving decoys together, and their work eventually became prized by both hunters and collectors. By texas law a winning auction bidder automatically enters into a legal and binding purchase contract with the auction house. The decoy was described as retaining the original paint with a good patina acquired over the years. The ward brothers ward museum of wildfowl art salisbury md. Decoy carving, canvasback, ward style part 1 youtube. Unfortunately, many of the early decoys were never signed by the brothers. No results for ward brothers decoys similar to ward brothers decoys on ebay. The ward brothers house and shop is a historic home located at crisfield, somerset county, maryland, united states. Wardbro insignia and carving year on the decoys underside.
I stopped by to see lem in crisfield on my way to the show in easton and gave him a framed artist proof of the painting. Theres little wonder why the chesapeake bay region is known as the. Most carvings were signed by one or both brothers with the l. Lem and his brother, steve, learned to carve working duck decoys from their father, who also trained them as barbers. Starr mallard hen decoy, the ward brothers by copley fine. Lem and steve began carving decoys as a parttime occupation. New world auction record established for a ward brothers decoy.
The searchable list below contains many educational, informative, and beautiful books about decoys and related collectibles. Some of their work is preserved at the ward museum of wildfowl art in salisbury, maryland. In 1918, their father drowned in a boating accident, and with the loss of his income, their family was almost destitute. Ward decoy ward bros ward duck ward pintail ward seme ward miniature ward circa ward crisfield ward brothers ward maryland ward print ward decoys ward schroeder ward mini ward goose ward decorative ward signed ward model ward unlimited ward ducks ward. Few examples of their work survive on the open market, as private collectors and museums now own most of their original works. After doing more research and talking to some friends who have literally written the book on old, handcarved decoys, cobb found out he had a rarity. I love the wards carving and painting techniques and try to replicate them to the best of my ability. Ward brothers duck decoy circa 1918 liveauctioneers. You can see many of the ward s decoys there, as well as a replica of their shop at the museum. Pair of rare ward brothers widgeon decoys sale number. Bishops head canada goose decoy, the ward brothers by copley. The print depicts images of nine types of decoys crafted by the brothers in the 1920s and 30s. Our ward brothers framed art prints ship within 48 hours, arrive readytohang, and include a 30day moneyback guarantee.
By 1940 the market for decoys would change for several reasons. And even before that activity came to an end, private duck clubs had been established. See the book wildfowler decoys by lafountain and cowen for a similar models. Ward brothers decoys for sale wooden decoy collector. I had been chosen to do the book cover painting for the 20th anniversary of the waterfowl festival in easton, maryland, and i based the painting on a wonderful ward brothers canada goose decoy that i had in my collection. Timeless treasures ward brothers decoys book ward museum. Jun 12, 2017 although the wards disapproved of the bigcity sportsmen shooting ducks baited with feed, the gunning clubs ordered large numbers of ward decoys, and their old wards required regular repainting. Ward 1895 1976, were two brothers from crisfield, maryland, who became famous for their wooden wildfowl carvings, commonly called decoys.
To recognize the ward brothers work, the ward museum of wildfowl art in salisbury, maryland opened in 1992 as part of salisbury university and is the largest collection of wildfowl art in the world. Smith 10gauge shotgun that was used by legendary carver steve ward, along with other ward brothers memorabilia is among the artifacts on display from collectors bob and cindy jester of. It has been out of print since the early eighties but still host a world of information not in other. Its located in the butte sink, colusa county, right in the middle of the 500,000 acres of northern california rice land. Steve ward is often credited with doing most of the decoy carving and lem with most of the painting, but this tends to oversimplify the close working relationship between the two brothers who formed a unique carving partnership. Ward 18951976, were two brothers from crisfield, maryland, who became famous for their wooden wildfowl carvings, commonly called decoys. Shooting stools represent one of americas three folk arts, the ground work of which was laid by decoy carvers such as the wards who, for decades, made only shooting stools. Ira hudson is undoubtedly chincoteague, virginias most famous decoy maker. Today, ward brothers decoys are often popular additions to private collections. Although the wards disapproved of the bigcity sportsmen shooting ducks baited with feed, the gunning clubs ordered large numbers of ward decoys, and their old wards required regular repainting. Ward 18961983 and stephen ward 18951976, crisfield, maryland, early 20th century, turnedhead figures with original paint, minor losses, repairs, lg. Bufflehead duck decoy, attributed to the ward brothers, together with another attributed to chris smith, michigan, and a bluebill. Bishops head canada goose decoy, the ward brothers by. The ward brothers decoy carvers extraordinaire liveauctioneers.