North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Wild West Wonders: May Collector's Auction Event

Sat, May 18, 2024 11:00AM EDT
Lot 628

Rick Morkel Pheasant Photo & Painted Feather

Estimate: $200 - $400

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration is this beautiful pheasant photo and painted turkey feather with attached pheasant tails done by Rick Morkel circa late 1990s to early 200s. Rick Morkel spent 33 years as an art teacher at Independence Community School District in Independence, Iowa. He attended West High School, Huron College, and the University of Northern Iowa. Wildlife art is Morkel's specialty. In 2011, one of his paintings, a ruby-throated hummingbird, was included in Iowa Duck's Unlimited Art History Prints. This piece features a nice photo of a pheasant standing in some grass near some bushes showing colors of red, black, white, blue, beige and brown. Below the photo is the painted turkey feather with the attached pheasant tail, showing a painting of a pheasant. The feathers shows colors of white, black and brown, while the painted pheasant shows colors of white, grey, black, blue, beige and red. The pheasant tail is attached to the turkey feather with rawhide strips wrapped in black leather. The photo is signed in gold ink reading, "Rick Morkel". The pieces are set in a nice wood frame and have been double matted with brown and brown/red matting paper. Overall the artwork shows good condition with little to no wear present. No signs of obvious damage is noted. The visible photo measures 7 3/4" L x 9 3/4" W, the feather measures approximately 14 1/4" L x 3 1/2" W. The entire piece measures 20 11/16" L x 19 15/16" W x 1 1/4" D. The artwork weighs 4 pounds and 6 ounces.