Skip to main content
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler, (1872–1949), “Black Duck”, Stratford, Connecticut, c. 1930, Paint o…
Black Duck
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler, (1872–1949), “Black Duck”, Stratford, Connecticut, c. 1930, Paint o…
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler, (1872–1949), “Black Duck”, Stratford, Connecticut, c. 1930, Paint on wood, 18 × 6 1/2 × 6 in., Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1969.1.8. Photo by American Folk Art Museum.
Record Details

Black Duck

Artist ((1872–1949))
Datec. 1930
Place/RegionStratford, Connecticut
MediumPaint on wood
Dimensions18 × 6 1/2 × 6"
Credit LineGift of Alastair B. Martin
Accession number1969.1.8
CopyrightCopyright for this work is under review.
Description

Shang Wheeler was a man of diverse interests and talents who served as a Connecticut state senator, managed the Connecticut Oyster Farms in Milford, and was an avid outdoorsman. His decoys drew upon older traditions established by Stratford carvers Albert Davids Laing and Benjamin Holmes, such as hollow two-piece bodies with prominent chests. Wheeler made both working decoys and show birds in wood and cork. Black ducks were among his most beautiful cork decoys.

Stacy C. Hollander, "Black Duck," in American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 366.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information. 

To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org

Black Duck
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler 
Photo by John Parnell
Charles E. Wheeler
c. 1930
1969.1.15
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler, (1872–1949), “White-Winged Scooter Drake,” Stanford, Connecticut, c…
Charles E. Wheeler
c. 1930
1969.1.16
Canvasback Hen
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler
Photo by Carleton Palmer
Charles E. Wheeler
c. 1930
1969.1.75
Canvasback Drake
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler
Photo by John Parnell
Charles E. Wheeler
c. 1930
1969.1.74
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler, (1872–1949), “White-winged Scoter Hen”, Stratford, Connecticut, 192…
Charles E. Wheeler
1925–1935
1969.1.28
Captain Charles C.  Osgood, (1820–1886), “Red-breasted Merganser Drake”, Salem, Massachusetts, …
Captain Charles C. Osgood
c. 1880
1963.4.1
Captain Charles C.  Osgood, (1820–1886), “Merganser Hen”, Salem, Massachusetts, c. 1880, Paint …
Captain Charles C. Osgood
c. 1880
1963.4.2
Charles Turner, 1860–1939, “Ruddy Turnstone”, New Jersey, 1900–1918, Paint on wood, 4 × 8 1/2 ×…
Charles Turner
1900–1918
1988.18.11
Charles Clark, (1869–1947), “Curlew”, Chincoteague Island, Virginia, 1890–1918, Paint on wood, …
Charles Clark
1890–1918
1988.18.14
Charles Clark, (1869–1947), “Lesser Yellowlegs”, Chincoteague Island, Virginia, c. 1920, Paint …
Charles Clark
c. 1920
1969.1.117
Charles F. Coffin, 1835–1919, “Golden Plover”, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 1905–1915, Paint on wo…
Charles F. Coffin
1905–1915
1969.1.121
Carousel Horse with Jewels
Marcus Charles Illions
Photo by Ken Hicks
Marcus Charles Illions
c. 1915
1982.4.2