Rare and Important James Best (NC, 1866-1933), Swan

Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, circa 1910, carved and painted wood.

Length 23 in.

From the Personal Collection of Mr. Kroghie Andresen, Charlotte, North Carolina.

James Best was arguably the finest decoy maker to ever come from North Carolina. He was, perhaps the finest sculptural artist who just happened to make decoys. Around 1910, a three mast schooner named the William H. Davidson came ashore just south of Paul Gamiels Life Saving Station. A.B. Love Tillet, keeper of the Nags Head Life Saving Station, salvaged it. The masts were made from ash wood. They were cut up in pieces suitable for large decoys. Reportedly, James Best made eighteen large Canada goose decoys. A.B. Love Tillet gifted these eighteen geese to Clarence E. Twiford to use as a working goose rig. Clarence moved to Elizabeth City where he commercially fished and operated a small grocery store. The Twiford family used these decoys for years. Over the years, some of these decoys were dispersed or lost. Julian Hamilton bought six of these decoys, which were repainted as swans, from Arthur Twiford who was Clarence's brother.
This exact decoy is published in an article written by Julian Hamilton, Sr. in the Oct/Dec 1964 issue of Decoy Collectors Guide.

Old gunning paint, working repair to neck.

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