Flying Pintail Drake
Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949)
Chincoteague, VA, c. 1930
24 1/2 by 21 1/2 by 7 in.

Referencing a closely related carving in her 1974 book, "American Decoys," Quintina Colio writes, "Ira Hudson, the great decoy maker of Chincoteague, was the most prolific carver from Virginia. Despite his working steadily to fill orders to support his wonderful family, he took time to make these fanciful decorations. His record stands that he always produced a most collectible work of art."

This example's full-cheek carving, provenance, and stylish paint place it among an elite group of Hudson fliers. William J. Mackey Jr. selected a related flying Hudson pintail to hang prominently above his fireplace mantle. Hudson’s understanding of a duck in flight is seen the the craning turned head, cupped wings, and the slight arch to the swooping tail.
In original paint with some professional restoration to wings, tail has been reset, missing feet, right wing is slightly loose.

Provenance: Private Collection, by descent in the family, acquired directly from the maker
Private Collection, Maryland
Grant Nelson Collection

Literature: Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Sporting Sale 2010," Plymouth, MA, July 22-23, 2010, lot 461, exact decoy illustrated.Henry H. Stansbury, "Ira D. Hudson and Family, Chincoteague Carvers," Lewes, DE, 2002, p. 146, similar carving illustrated.Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "Southern Decoys of Virginia and the Carolinas," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 75, plates 91 and 92, similar carvings illustrated.Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 95, similar examples illustrated.William H. Purnell Jr., “Back East In the Midwest Out West,” Decoy Magazine, September/October 1991, p. 9, related example above mantel.Zac Zetterberg, ed., “American Decoy: The Invention,” Peoria, IL, 2020, p. 85, related example illustrated.

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