The Hillman English-Dawson Pintail Hen by John English (1848-1915)

Lot 389

About Seller

20 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
United States

Founded in 2005, Copley Fine Art Auctions is a boutique auction house specializing in antique decoys and American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Over the course of the last two decades, the firm has set auction records for not only individual decoy makers, but also entire carving regions. Copley...Read more

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About Auction

The Winter Sale 2026, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

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The Winter Sale 2026, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 21, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-02-21 10:00:00 2026-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2026, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2026-day-2-22164 Lots 301-368 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

The Hillman English-Dawson Pintail Hen
John English (1848-1915)
Florence, NJ, c. 1880
14 3/4 in. long

English's importance as the father of the Delaware River school of carving is documented by virtually every authority from the region. Robert "Bob" White describes English as "the ultimate Delaware River carver." Author Kenneth L. Gosner notes, "The work of John English set a standard against which other Delaware River makers have been measured and compared ever since. Indeed, for many collectors, the English style is the Delaware River style."

A "Decoy Magazine" article on the Delaware River master explains "... a large rig of John English decoys were acquired by John Dawson [1886-1959], a hunter from nearby Trenton, who repainted the rig in bold geometric patterns...this unplanned collaborative effort produced a rig that is highly sought by collectors."

This exact hen is part of John Hillman's English-Dawson pintail pair, which is illustrated in no less than five major decoy publications. In the 1996 Hillman Collection auction, the drake was the first English-Dawson decoy to break the six-figure mark. The underside is marked with both the Muller and Hillman Collection ink stamps.
In Dawson's excellent working repaint with minimal wear and working touch-up to four nail holes and a small section of the body seam under the tail.

Provenance: John Hillman Collection
Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection
Matt Geis Collection

Literature: Kenneth L. Gosner, "Working Decoys of the Jersey Coast and Delaware Valley," Cranbury, NJ, 1985, pp. 89-91, quote, color pl. 27, exact decoy illustrated. H. Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, "Floating Sculptures: The Decoys of the Delaware River," Spanish Fork, UT, 1982, p. 121, exact decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "Decoys of the Mid-Atlantic Region," Exton, PA, 1979, p. 67, exact decoy illustrated. Guyette and Schmidt, "Important Auction of Rare Waterfowl Decoys from the Collection of John Hillman, April 25 & 26, 1996," St. Charles, IL, 1996, p. 93, lot 400, exact decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "New Jersey Decoys," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 40, pl. XXX, exact decoy illustrated.

Condition

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