Hollow Nantucket Merganser Pair
Nantucket, MA, c. 1850
15 3/4 in. long

"The hollow construction and head and tail carving make this decoy outstanding." — Shirley and John Delph, discussing this drake in "New England Decoys"

These unique and stylish “Morton” mergansers have hollow bodies with applied bottom boards, a feature rarely seen in New England. They have subtle chine carving at the front edges of the wings and distinctive wing-tip carving. This wing-tip carving and the drake's pounced breast paint can be seen in some of the unknown maker's golden plover decoys, including those with the W. S. Morton brand.

The Morton moniker comes from the rig of William Saxton Morton (1809-1871), a wealthy attorney from Quincy, Massachusetts. Morton was also the founder of the Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1851. W. S. Morton’s rig brand is commonly found in a distinct group of early flat-bottomed Nantucket decoys.

These mergansers are finished with elaborate plumage. The wing patterns are finely rendered with the drake’s design showing striking parallels to the work of the fellow 19th century Massachusetts master, Lothrop T. Holmes (1824-1899).

One other single hen is known to exist. The drake's bottom board is branded "Q" for the Quandy Collection.
Original paint with even gunning wear. Drake has age lines, chips to bottom board, imperfection on small hole to front left side, very minor spot touch-up to minimal flaking, and one-half bill replacement.

Provenance: Quandy Collection (drake only)
Lew Horton Collection

Literature: John and Shirley Delph, "New England Decoys," Exton, PA, 1981, pp. 86 and 104, exact drake illustrated twice.