John "Daddy" Holly (MD, 1818-1892), Canvasback

Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1850, carved and painted wood.

Length 13.75 in.

From the Personal Collection of Artist Mr. Joe Seme Wilmington, North Carolina

The classic 1853 book Sporting Anecdotes by John Krider lists John Holly as one of the most highly respected duck hunters from Havre de Grace. On the day Krider went to Havre de Grace to hunt ducks, he reported that Holly killed 119 canvasbacks near Devil's Island. Daddy Holly was a market gunner and his decoys are historically and artistically important.

Old gunning paint with moderate wear to wood in areas, missing wood around tail edge, tight age check along bottom.