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Pair of miniature hooded mergansers by Walter J. Ruppel and Son, Portland, Oregon. They are each signed by Walt Ruppel and dated 1992. The drake also retains the company label. Each is in mint original condition with glass eyes, detailed bill carving incised wings and fine feather paint. The hen's head is turned about 20 degrees to the left while the drake's is turned about 10 degrees to the right. They are both 6.5" in length, 3" wide and 3" high. SOLD
Slightly oversized (20" L x 6.25" W x 7.5" H) red-breasted merganser drake decoy by George Huey of Friendship, Maine, circa 1915 - 1920. The decoy has an inlet head with carved eyes as well as bill carving. The underside is unusual for Huey, being hollow with a bottom board, probably following the flow of a partially hollowed log he was using. The carving is in mostly original paint with a small amount of in-use overpaint worn almost back to the original surface with moderate flaking and wear and age splits in the back and tail and one side of the bottom board. There is a small chip in the tail and a chip missing at the base of the neck as well as an old in-use repair to a crack in the neck. Huey is recognized as having carved some of New England's finest and most collectible merganser decoys. SOLD
Beautifully hand-colored engraving (aquatint) by Robert Havell, Junior (1793 - 1878), of London, England, printed from the original plates, engraved in 1838. Havell is best known for the Audubon "Birds of America" engravings. This aquatint is titled "Snipe Shooting Near Uxbridge". The image field is approximately 8.25" x 12.125" . The original antique frame measures 16" x 21". It is black with gold edging and shows some flaking and wear. The framing was done many years ago by the Town and Country Shop, 511 E. Mason St., Milwaukee, WI. SOLD
A most unique assemblage or collage on board using the actual pelts of snipe to give the appearance of hanging game. The full-feather pelts of two snipe are arranged to resemble the complete birds with the legs, bills and hanging string painted in. Made near the middle of the Victorian Era, it is signed in the lower right corner and dated 1872. The initials or signature are illegible. The board measures approximately 14" x 19.25". The original antique stained oak frame with gilt border measures approximately 19" x 25" overall. A very rare and appealing piece of art! SOLD
Finely detailed oil on artist board trompe l'oeil nature morte painting of a pair of hanging wood ducks by Addison Thomas Millar (1860-1913), New York, signed lower left corner, "A. T. Millar 1879". Light crackle with retouch to abrasions at the top edge of the painting. The 12.25" x 17.875" painting is set in its original 17.5" x 23" antique stained oak frame. Formerly in the Bob Timberlake collection. SOLD
Signed oil on canvas trompe l'oeil nature morte painting of a pair of hanging shoveler ducks by Ida Hanson, American school, late 19th century. Light crackle with professionally restoration at areas of flaking in the background. The 15.125" x 19.125" painting is set in a 21" x 25" faux burl and gilt wood frame. Formerly in the Bob Timberlake collection. SOLD
Fine oil on panel nature morte paintings of hanging game by Belgian painter Francois Joesph Huygens (1820-1908), signed and dated 1867. One is of a mallard with 2 larks and a powder flask. The second is of a hare, Hungarian (gray) partridge and muzzle-loaded shotgun. Each still life is painted against a landscape background. Each is 7.5" x 9" in matching 12" x 13.5" burl-veneer frames with gilded borders. The artist's seals are on the back of the panels. Both paintings have slight abrasions at the edges, perhaps with light touchup, and some crackle. Formerly in the Bob Timberlake collection. SOLD
Near-mint wood pigeon decoy by William Jaggard of Elveden, Suffolk, United Kingdom, circa late 2nd quarter, 20th century. In unused condition, this stylish pigeon has carved shoulders and wings, a cast metal bill and glass eyes. Painted in the species' fall plumage, the full-bodied carving measures just under 14" in length, 3.75" in width and 3" in depth at the breast. Jaggard continued the carving business of his father-in-law and mentor, James Rolph. Similar in time frame to North American waterfowl and shorebird decoys, wood pigeon decoys have been used in the United Kingdom since the latter half of the 1800s with examples ranging from the deeply carved examples sold by Trulock and Harriss and R. Ward Co. to the more stylized examples of Jaggard, Harry Boddy and Robert Lange. Judging from the number of examples found today, Jaggard, along with the Rolph family, Boddy and Ted Grace, was one of England's most prolific makers. See my other website, www.woodpigeondecoys.com, dedicated to the identification and documentation of these decoys and their carvers for additional information. SOLD