Ward brothers decoys can be generally categorized into five carving periods. Our team has dug up a varied group of items at a range of prices. The decoy was described as retaining the original paint with a good patina acquired over the years. Soon the brothers were known throughout the area for their fine hunting decoys. Lem ward was born september 19, 1896, in the crisfield, maryland, region of chesapeake bay. They operated a barber shop, but carved decoys from discarded telephone poles between haircuts and shaves. It has been out of print since the early eighties but still host a world of information not in other. Find out how much the chincoteague native means to the carving community. 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. The ward brothers decoys, a collectors guide, 1989, op. The ward brothers father was a barber who carved decoys on the side. Pair of ward brothers bishops head wigeon decoys, one male and one female, sold by copley fine art auctions, boston, feb. 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.
Ward 18951976, were two brothers from crisfield, maryland, who became famous for their wooden wildfowl carvings, commonly called decoys. Ward brothers canvasback duck decoy vintage crisfield maryland ca. Timeless treasures ward brothers decoys book ward museum salisbury maryland. Circa 1948, signed and marked best grade on bottom of each. It has been out of print since the early eighties but still host a world of information not in other books. North carolina decoys and gunning lore by william neal conoley, jr.
The white mallard consists of 969 acres, about 90% of which is dedicated to wetland habitat. Most carvings were signed by one or both brothers with the l. Ward turned folk art into fine art and contributed greatly to the heritage of the eastern shore of the majestic chesapeake bay. Identified, signed, and dated 1967 in the underside. Ira hudson is undoubtedly chincoteague, virginias most famous decoy maker. The item youve selected was not added to your cart.
Each museumquality ward brothers framed print may be customized with hundreds of different frame and mat options. 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. Ward brothers decoys for sale wooden decoy collector. May 01, 2017 local decoy carvers are mourning the loss of legendary carver cigar daisey. Starr mallard hen decoy, the ward brothers by copley fine. In part one of painting a canvasback, ward style, ill be demonstrating how i paint a 1936 ward canvasback. In 1918, their father drowned in a boating accident, and with the loss of his income, their family was almost destitute. Many of the books we stock are out of print and hard to find. 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.
Bishops head canada goose decoy, the ward brothers by copley. Vintage antique old wooden early working ncva duck decoy. Ward brothers carved niched in art world for wildfowl decoys. Lem and his brother, steve, learned to carve working duck decoys from their father, who also trained them as barbers. 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. The top decoy in the sale was a museum quality humpbackstyle pintail hen produced by the ward brothers. Theres little wonder why the chesapeake bay region is known as the cradle of american decoy carving. The drake is illustrated in the book new england decoys by john and shirley. The ward brothers house and shop is a historic home located at crisfield, somerset county, maryland, united states. No results for ward brothers decoys similar to ward brothers decoys on ebay.
These signatures vary in form from a simple printed l. 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. Lem and steve began carving decoys as a parttime occupation. Museum programs bring people of all ages together through exploration of. Timeless treasures ward brothers decoys by the ward museum. See the book wildfowler decoys by lafountain and cowen for a similar models. The ward museum is a cherished part of its local community on the eastern shore of maryland and far beyond. Known as avid hunters and sportsmen, its said their close observations of birds helped make their decoys very realistic. Ward 18961983 and stephen ward 18951976, crisfield, maryland, early 20th century, turnedhead figures with original paint, minor losses, repairs, lg. Dec 05, 2006 the decoy established a record price paid at auction not only for nathan cobb, but also for a virginia decoy. Raines tavern decoys, folk art,collectibles,antiquessold. Bluebill drake, ward brothers, crisfield, maryland. New world auction record established for a ward brothers decoy.
This 1987 factory proof with an unusualtjh branded on the base is hand signed by hooker. 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. 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. 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. Many are out of print but available through mdca member dealers and online sources.
Finding a golden goose in a duck decoy outdoors and. Ward brothers decoys for sale wooden decoy collection. Ward brothers duck decoy circa 1918 liveauctioneers. Sometime around 1915 these two brothers began carving decoys together, and their work eventually became prized by both hunters and collectors. 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. Most ward decoys in collections and practically all of their decorative carvings have been signed by one or both of the brothers. Drake pintail in the crisfield style made in 1961 by then 40 year old charles joiner from betterton, md. Details about timeless treasures ward brothers decoys book ward museum salisbury maryland. Bufflehead duck decoy, attributed to the ward brothers, together with another attributed to chris smith, michigan, and a bluebill. Bluebill by the ward brothers of crisfield, maryland, ca. A signed and numbered limited edition print titled the ward bros.
Nice size with 55 pages with hundreds of nice color photos and decoy history info. The ward brothers are among the most celebrated of the chesapeake bayarea carvers. Today, ward brothers decoys are often popular additions to private collections. Canvasback drake, ward brothers, crisfield, maryland, dated 1973. Id face year expires subjectartist catval mint purchase info mint wbdc1 1983. Lem and steve, both born in the mid1890s, followed that tradition.
The ward museum of wildfowl art on marylands eastern shore. Of the numerous goose patterns produced by the ward brothers. Competitive prices of ward brothers decoys and other related products. Starr mallard hen decoy, the ward brothers by copley fine art. Theres little wonder why the chesapeake bay region is known as the. You are bidding on a tj hooker ward brothers style canvasback decoy, oneofakind signed factory pattern estate attic find. 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, the bishops head gun club model is the most popular.
Few examples of their work survive on the open market, as private collectors and museums now own most of their original works. A related decoy is featured in the hundred greatest book. Ward 1895 1976, were two brothers from crisfield, maryland, who became famous for their wooden wildfowl carvings, commonly called decoys. By texas law a winning auction bidder automatically enters into a legal and binding purchase contract with the auction house. The print depicts images of nine types of decoys crafted by the brothers in the 1920s and 30s. For most, decoy carving was a sideline, not a profession. Even though many were unsigned, it was easy to identify a ward decoy.
Illustrated with 72 black and white plates of the ward brothers carvings and 16 color plates of their carvings. Krogie andresen gunnin birds decoys of the back black bay, virginia, currituck sound, dare county in north carolina, 2008. Wardbro insignia and carving year on the decoys underside. Has a great ward brothers hen shovler on the front cover. The ward brothers decoy carvers extraordinaire liveauctioneers. 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. So for ward brothers decoys we see that earlier examples, all else being equal, may be more desirable. 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.
Some of their work is preserved at the ward museum of wildfowl art in salisbury, maryland. The winter sale 2016 copley fine art auctions issuu. Unfortunately, many of the early decoys were never signed by the brothers. The wards appear to have maintained a relationship with the club, providing additional decoys and maintenance to the rig over time.
Decoy carving, canvasback, ward style part 1 youtube. 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. Ferguson, secessionville manor, charleston, sc additional highresolution photos are available at. Ward brothers rejects, hired a black carver, and sold decoys by the barrel. Our ward brothers framed art prints ship within 48 hours, arrive readytohang, and include a 30day moneyback guarantee. A biography of two of the best and most interesting of the old time decoy makers. Rare factory pattern of a ward style decoy by tj hooker of crystal lake illinois. An excellent copy by tuts of his close friends and mentors, lem and steves most sought after style.
Pair of rare ward brothers widgeon decoys sale number. 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. Lem and steve ward were known through out the area for their counterfeiters in wood. I love the wards carving and painting techniques and try to replicate them to the best of my ability. 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. The ward brothers ward museum of wildfowl art salisbury md. Drake pictured in color in fleckensteins classic book decoys of the midatlantic and also on dust jacket. 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. Although the ward brothers are no longer with us, their legacy lives on. Bishops head canada goose decoy, the ward brothers by.
And even before that activity came to an end, private duck clubs had been established. The ward brothers house and shop was listed on the national register of historic places in 1997. Its located in the butte sink, colusa county, right in the middle of the 500,000 acres of northern california rice land. Museum programs bring people of all ages together through exploration of art, nature and tradition. By 1940 the market for decoys would change for several reasons. You can see many of the ward s decoys there, as well as a replica of their shop at the museum. Ward brothers duck decoys for sale at online auction bid. Pair of rare ward brothers widgeon decoys sold for. Buy ward brothers framed prints from our community of independent artists and iconic brands. Hollow carved shooting stool model with slightly turned head and thick stipple paint. Known as avid hunters and sportsmen, its said their close observations of birds helped make their decoys. The searchable list below contains many educational, informative, and beautiful books about decoys and related collectibles.