Bill McLellan Pacific Black Brant

This is the best brant by Bill McLellan (Eureka, CA) ca. 1930s that I’ve seen. This exact decoy was in the in the Dr. James McCleery collection and so stamped on the bottom. It was offered in the January 2000 McCleery auction through Guyette & Schmidt/Sotheby’s (Lot 15). In this auction it was misidentified as a copy of a McLellan. That is an inaccurate identification as this is an authentic example by the maker. It was estimated at $400-$600 and the sale price was $1,150. So, others obviously were aware of the authenticity as well. Excellent and all original two tone paint pattern. See pages 62 and 63 of Wildfowl Decoys of California by Michael Miller for similar examples. Measures 16” in length. Slight separation at the neck.