Exceptional Purnell-Hudson Merganser Pair by Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949)

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Jul 10, 2025

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Lots 1-316 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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• Lot Description
  Exceptional Purnell-Hudson Merganser Pair
  Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949)
  Chincoteague, VA, c. 1930
  15 1/2 in. long
  
  This rig-mate pair of red-breasted mergansers hail from the renowned decoy collection of William H. Purnell Jr. Perhaps the greatest Southern decoy collector of all time, his "WHP Jr." brand of approval found its way onto the undersides of many of the best decoys to come out of the South, including this pair.
  
  Over the course of the last six decades, the greatest decoy collectors of all time have made the pilgrimage down to Mr. Purnell's in the hopes that they might acquire a signature Southern acquisition or two. Indeed, three of the top four Hudson merganser pairs to ever be sold have passed through the hands of Mr. Purnell. Among those four Hudson pairs, two are hooded mergansers that reside in two of the country's top decoy collections, and the two other pairs are red-breasted mergansers. One pair resides in a top New England collection and the other is this pair. Ira Hudson had a very distinct and stylized take on mergansers with his delicate bill treatment, thinly carved crests, and fluted paddle tails. His carving tendencies led to very few examples surviving intact the rigors of hunting along the rough waters of the Atlantic Coast. The condition of this exceedingly rare pair in strong original paint is virtually unprecedented. Indeed, the only known rigmate hen set a world record for the maker nearly two decades ago when it sold for $214,000. Legend has it that there were six birds in this rig; however, the world record hen, this hen, and this single drake are the only three to have surfaced. Love for Hudson's work by collectors is well documented. In William J. Mackey Jr.'s pioneering book, "American Bird Decoys," he profiled Hudson as the "...best commercial decoy maker Virginia ever produced..." Describing a closely related pair, also owned by Purnell, Mackey writes, "A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers that illustrate the best work of Ira Hudson of Chincoteague Island, Virginia." The Mergansers chapter of Hudson biographer Henry Stansbury's well-researched book begins, "Folk art collectors easily fall prey to the lure of merganser decoys. Each carver's varied interpretations of the flowing crests of these racy birds add a dimension to the presence of these decoys not found in other species of waterfowl. Merganser decoys from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Chincoteague in particular, are among the folkiest ever produced. Ira Hudson arguably made the finest." With Hudson's best "football" form, each carving features the thin, flared, and fluted tails that collectors look for. The intact bills have incised rows of serrated teeth which are flanked by mandible carving. Ira's best head carving is on display with full cheeks, eye grooves, and painted eye brows. Tight wing bars flank both birds, with the scratch feathering on the hen being some of the finest seen on any Hudson decoy. A rare opportunity to acquire one of the most iconic pairs of Virginia decoys to ever come to market.
  Excellent original paint with even gunning wear. Small old chip to bottom of hen's crest, and some minor roughness on underside where weights were removed.
  
  Provenance: William H. Purnell Jr. Collection
  Private Collection, acquired from the above
  
  Literature: William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p.161, pl. 134, related Mackey-Purnell pair illustrated. Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 18, related Mackey-Purnell pair illustrated. Robert H. Richardson, ed., "Chesapeake Bay Decoys," Burtonsville, MD, 1991, p. 139, related Mackey-Purnell pair illustrated. Cameron McIntyre, "Ira Hudson," Decoy Magazine, Sept./Oct. 1995, p. 9, related Mackey-Purnell pair illustrated. Henry H. Stansbury, "Ira D. Hudson and Family," Lewes, DE, 2002, pp. 113-119, many mergansers illustrated.

  Condition

  Please refer to the description; if you have additional questions, email colin@copleyart.com.
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