Antique Widgeon Drake Decoy, circa 1940, by J. Elmer Crowell

Antique Widgeon Drake Decoy, circa 1940, by J. Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, MA (1862 – 1952), a hand carved and painted Widgeon or Baldpate drake decoy, signed with Crowell’s rectangular stamp on the bottom.

Retains much of the original paint with on sides and back, with nice mottled and swirled ghost feathering. There has been some restoration to the paint, especially on the tail. The head is original, and is just barely beginning to loosen. The rectangular stamp on the bottom remains clear and legible.

Elmer Crowell was a master decoy carver from Cape Cod who specialized in shorebirds, waterfowl, and miniatures. His decoys are consistently regarded as some of the finest and most desirable decoys ever made and hold the record price for a decoy sold (two sold for $1.13 million apiece). His barn workshop was restored and moved to the grounds near the Harwich Historical Society and is open to the public as a museum commemorating his life and work.

Measures: 6-1/2 in H x 13 in L x 6 in W.