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Lot Essay
This is one of only six mergansers known by Holmes: This incredible hen, from the collection of George and Hope Wick, is considered by most to be the second best of the rig. One pair from the collection of Adele Earnest resides in the American Museum of Folk Art in New York, three others in private collections, and one pair from the collection of Russell B. Aitken, which was sold at Christie's New York, January 18, 2003, lot 1243.
While Holmes is known to have made other species of duck decoys, such as goldeneye and oldsquaw, his mergansers are held in the highest regard among collectors. Holmes also produced some of the finest shorebird decoys known to exist. His shorebird species include yellowlegs, black-bellied plover, with the rarest being only two known examples of the ruddy turnstone.
While Holmes is known to have made other species of duck decoys, such as goldeneye and oldsquaw, his mergansers are held in the highest regard among collectors. Holmes also produced some of the finest shorebird decoys known to exist. His shorebird species include yellowlegs, black-bellied plover, with the rarest being only two known examples of the ruddy turnstone.