Flying Bufflehead Pair

Chauncey Wheeler (1888-1945)

Alexandria Bay, NY, c. 1920 and 1930

In his 2002 biography of Chauncey Wheeler, Harold Reiser writes of this exact hen, "This half-flying bufflehead is the only bufflehead hen known to have been made by Wheeler." The hen measures 15 inches from bill to tail tip. The drake, measuring 17 inches, is an earlier carving than the hen and is identified on the back, "Male Butter Ball." Reiser's thoroughly researched book on Wheeler's carvings did not include an illustration of a drake, and it is considered to be as rare as the hen. The drake exhibits a vertically laminated three-piece body and is suspended by two hand-cut copper hangers.

In original paint. The drake has a scrape on the wing and some touch-up under and in front of the wing seam, with the foot professionally replaced. The hen has touch-up to the the top of the wing seam.

Harold W. Reiser III, "Chauncey Wheeler," Lewes, DE, 2002, p. 88, exact hen illustrated.