authentic hand-carved wooden waterfowl sculpture by the highly collected Pennsylvania artisan John Jeffrey Barto (1943–2008). Dated 1998, this exquisite piece represents a Blue-winged Teal Drake rendered in Barto’s iconic, stylized contemporary folk art aesthetic. Barto was celebrated for a signature technique that enhanced the natural organic beauty of wood. The fine feathering and complex wing lines were meticulously burned into the wood form using a handheld stylus. Transparent, multi-toned wood stains were then applied over the grain, creating a striking "inlaid" appearance that shifts beautifully in the light. The drake features a stylized pale yellow facial crescent, a rich dark-stained head, and inset dark glass eyes. The underside is hand-inscribed by the artist: Blue-winged Teal Drake / John J. Barto 1998. • Artist: John Jeffrey Barto (Bucks County, PA) • Species: Blue-winged Teal (Drake) • Year Crafted: 1998 • Material: Solid Wood, Hand-Burned & Translucent Glazed