The Mills Running Yellowlegs by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)

Lot 33

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 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

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The Winter Sale 2026, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 20, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-02-20 10:00:00 2026-02-20 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2026, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2026-day-1-22120 Lots 1-300 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

The Mills Running Yellowlegs
A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
East Harwich, MA, c. 1915
9 1/2 in. tall, 13 1/2 in. long

Anthony Elmer Crowell was born in 1862 in the town of East Harwich, Massachusetts, the son of a Cape Cod mariner and cranberry grower. The legend of A.E. Crowell and his famous carvings has many of the common threads of a classic artist's tale. It is the story of a boy of modest means, born at the right time, and befriended by encouraging patrons. Names including Underwood, Chace, Phillips, Long, and Cunningham have long been documented by historians and collectors. This yellowlegs hails from the Everett Mills Collection, and it has remained in the family for over a century. The Crowell collection of Everett Mills (1893-1959) has been a well-kept secret held in high regard by the few who learned of it. Like John C. Phillips, Mills was an early patron who hired Crowell to assist with his gunning camp. Mills' shooting stand was on Richmond Pond in Westport, Massachusetts, and he is now known to have hunted over Crowell decoys. Mills continued his relationship with Crowell as a patron of his decorative carvings and miniatures. This early running example exhibits excellent feather blending atop the delicately carved body. The underside of the base bears the maker's early oval brand.
Original paint with light wear, slight craquelure as seen on left shoulder, and a small drip of sealer between legs.

Provenance: Everett Mills Collection, acquired from the artist Private Collection, by descent

Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Chelsie W. Olney, "Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving," Hingham, MA, 2019, p. 197, related carving illustrated.

Condition

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