A member of the Smith Island Life Saving Service under Capt. George D. Hitchens along with other early carvers from Northampton County including Alma Fitchett and Robert Andrews. They worked together and all carved decoys although each had their own style. This early black duck circa 1880 is in well used condition with most of the paint worn to bare wood, surface cracks and additional nails added to the neck and body to extend it’s useful life. An ice groove extends aft from the base of the neck toward the tail. The ballast weight was removed at some point to facilitate it’s retirement to the shelf. A great old warrior from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, it measures approximately 16” long.
A member of the Smith Island Life Saving Service under Capt. George D. Hitchens along with other early carvers from Northampton County including Alma Fitchett and Robert Andrews. They worked together and all carved decoys although each had their own style. This early black duck circa 1880 is in well used condition with most of the paint worn to bare wood, surface cracks and additional nails added to the neck and body to extend it’s useful life. An ice groove extends aft from the base of the neck toward the tail. The ballast weight was removed at some point to facilitate it’s retirement to the shelf. A great old warrior from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, it measures approximately 16” long.
