MACKEY RED KNOTCape May, NJ, c. 1860
10in. long
This bold running decoy displays a hard chine, a chip-carved breast, and an underside with provenance markings. There is a Joe French Collection white label and...
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TRIO OF HIGH-HEAD YELLOWLEGSSouth Shore,MA, c. 1880
9 in. long
An lively trio with distinctly high heads. This group is part of a recently discovered rig and is offered here in its as-found state.
Original paint...
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CANVASBACKRobert Elliston (1847-1925)
Bureau,IL, c. 1890
15 3/4 in. long
This exact decoy is illustrated in Mackey's "American Bird Decoys," where the author notes the rarity of this example and that "Robert Elliston's...
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AMERICAN EGRETc. 1900
45 in. tall andbird is 26 in. long
This silhouette was carved from a three-quarter-inch board and could be made to represent and egret, stork, or crane. It has a lively weathered surface...
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PINTAIL DRAKEWilbur R. Corwin (1852-1914)(attr.)
Bellport, Long Island, NY, c. 1875
19 in. long
An extremely hollow decoy with a slightly turned head.
Working repaint with heavy gunning wear.
Provenance: Way Way...
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MACKEY LONG-TAILED DRAKELong Island,NY, c. 1880
11 1/4 in. long
An early hunting decoy that saw use along the rugged waters of the Atlantic Coast. William Mackey owned this decoy and illustrated a pair of rigmates...
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EARLY ROOT-HEAD SHOREBIRDThorn Rig
JamaicaBay, Long Island, NY, c. 1850
13 in. long
A large early decoy with an applied root head. Its size suggests it could have been used to attract curlew. This exact decoy and...
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THE SURACE FEEDING PLOVERObediah Verity(1813-1901)
Seaford, Long Island, NY, c. 1870
9 3/4 in. long
“Verity’s most distinctive form is a feeding shorebird, with its bulbous head bent down and forward, its...
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THE MULLER VERITY PEEP PAIRObediah Verity(1813-1901)
Seaford, Long Island, NY, c. 1880
6 3/4 in. long
This exceptional peep pair showcases identical form in two distinct plumages. The first is in a rarely seen darker-backed...
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MACKEY REDHEADCapt. Benjamin F. Dye(1832-1896)
Perryville, MD, c. 1880
12 3/4 in. long
This early Upper Bay decoy bears the Mackey Collection ink stamp. He illustrated this decoy in his book, noting that "stylized...
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EXEMPLARY DOWITCHERA. Elmer Crowell(1862-1952)
East Harwich, MA, c. 1910
12 1/2 in. long
A rare and important working Crowell dowitcher decoy displaying glass eyes, richly painted detail, and split-tail carving...
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THE SAFFORD SLEEPING GOOSECharles A.Safford (1877-1957)
Newburyport, MA, c. 1920
24 ½ in. long
“It leaps into the pantheon of the greatest American goose decoys ever made, sculpture and function in perfect...
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THE MACKEY-MULLER SHOURDS LONG-TAILHarryV. Shourds (1861-1920)
Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1890
13 1/2 in. long
This Shourds carving is considered one of the pinnacle gunning decoys out of New Jersey. In addition to its...
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"WHITE MALLARD CLUB" PINCH-BREAST PINTAILTheWard Brothers
Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976)
Crisfield, MD, c. 1932
18 3/4 in. long
“The Ward Brothers made pintails early on in their craft and they were...
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THE O'BRIEN CHAMBERS WOOD DUCKThomasChambers (1860-1948)
Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, c. 1900
15 in. long
“There are few, if any, areas in North America which provide such accessible hunting for such a large...
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THE MCCLEERY BOYD MERGANSER DRAKEGeorgeBoyd (1873-1941)
Seabrook, NH, c. 1910
18 ¾ in. long
“I had the good fortune of visiting with Jim McCleery on several occasions in his home in Texas. He was one of the...
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THE MCCLEERY BOYD MERGANSER HENGeorgeBoyd (1873-1941)
Seabrook, NH, c. 1910
18 ½ in. long
"Jim reserved special spots on his shelves, fireplace, and walls for his favorite birds. I remember the first time I...
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BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERDaniel Lake Leeds(1852-1922)
Pleasantville, NJ, c. 1890
9 1/2 in. long
Describing a rigmate and its maker in "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," William J. Mackey Jr. writes,...
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O'BRIEN VERITY PEEPObediah Verity (1813-1901)
Seaford,Long Island, NY, c. 1870
8 in. long
An excellent Verity runner with strong provenance and stippling, which includes red-phase plumage. The underside bears the serifed "J.B."...
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RARE GOLDEN PLOVERElisha Burr (1839-1909)
Hingham,MA, c. 1870
8 3/4 in. long
This diminutive Burr decoy is one of only two like it; the other of which resides in a prominent Cape Cod collection. These two gems are distinctive...
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EXCEEDINGLY RARE ESKIMO CURLEWJosephW. Lincoln (1859-1938)
Accord, MA, c. 1890
12 3/4 in. long
Donal C. O'Brien Jr. discovered this plump decoy and its only two related rigmates on the Island of Nantucket in...
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EARLY HOLLOW GOLDEN PLOVER WITH RAISEDWING TIPSFolger Family
Nantucket, MA, c. 1840
9 in. long
“To me,” wrote Donal C. O’Brien Jr. “...these are the greatest of all the Nantucket Golden Plovers; very...
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GOLDEN PLOVERMr. Webster
Nantucket,MA, c. 1850
10 in. long
This early plover with a sharp tail cut is among the best of its kind from the iconic Webster rig. It has resided on the island since it was made...
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EARLY HOLLOW FOLGER GOLDEN PLOVERFolgerFamily
Nantucket, MA, c. 1840
11 in. long
“Nantucket decoys are hard to come by and historically they are of great interest. Since they were used for relatively short periods...
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GRAND CURLEWCharles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952)
Shinnecock,NY, c. 1900
17 1/2 in. long
In 1971 Milton Weiler’s “Classic Shorebird Decoys” portfolio was published with text by William J. Mackey Jr. Across from Weiler’s Plate...
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THE HARMON RUNNING COBB CURLEWNathanF. Cobb Jr. (1825-1905)
Cobb Island, VA, c. 1880
15 1/2 in. long
“Every Nathan Cobb decoy had its own natural pose. Even his Hudsonian Curlews…seemed to run, feed, and...
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STANDING CANADA GOOSEJerry Mastin (1880-1959)
Portland,OR, 1937
26 in. long
This iconic and peerless rig of geese was initiated by the request of Mastin’s hunting partner, Roger Eaton, for use in harvested wheat fields. The...
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FLYING BRANTGeorge William McLellan(1897-1987)
Eureka, CA, c. 1941
24 in. long, 41 in. wingspan
One of only nine flying decoys originally created for this legendary rig. Few would argue that Bill McLellan’s...
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RARE WHIMBRELMason Decoy Factory (1896-1924)
Detroit,MI, c. 1910
16 1/2 in. long
A rare Mason Factory shorebird decoy with excellent form. In reference to this special model, which they call a Hudsonian Curlew or whimbrel,...
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EARLY CURLEW PAIRLewis A. Cranmer (1845-1920)
CedarRun, NJ, c. 1890
14 in. long
A pair of curlew with pronounced cheeks. As North America's largest shorebird, curlew are recognizable by their signature curved bill shaped...
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RARE LESSER YELLOWLEGSA. Elmer Crowell(1862-1952)
East Harwich, MA, c. 1910
9 1/2 in. long
Crowell author and historian Brian Cullity states, "The lesser yellowlegs was a relatively uncommon species to be used...
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16) BOOKS: NATIVE AMERICAN, TEXAS HISTORY,HUNTING(lot of 16) Hunting, Texas and Native American historical books, comprising: (1) "Louisiana Duck Decoys," Charles W. Frank, Jr., Pelican Publishing Company, Gretna,...
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THOMAS LANGAN, A PAINTED, CARVED UNCLESAM WHIRLIGIG20th Century. The underside stamped twice, Thomas Langan Maker, Roslyn Harbor. Uncle Sam, dressed in his typical, iconic American red and white striped pants,...
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AMERICAN CANVAS DECOY. New York state,1st half-20th century. Unusual diving or sleeping form made without a head. Canvas over wood slats with original paint. Wear and some loss. 4.5"h. 16.5"l....
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ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART CURLEW DECOY19th c., possibly New York State, carved wood with remnant paint and glass eyes, mounted on custom metal stand, accompanied by original purchase invoice, 7"h x 18"l x 4"w...
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Books: Waterfowl gamebirds sportingrelated Hagerbaumer David and Sam Lehman. SELECTED AMERICAN GAME BIRDS. Caldwell ID: The Caxton Printers 1972. With 26 plates of game birds within countryside landscapes;...
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