Curlew, Daniel Lake Leeds (1852-1922)

Lot 162

About Seller

65 Sharp Street
Hingham, MA 02043
United States

Copley Fine Art Auctions is the world's leading American sporting art auction company. Located in Hingham, MA, Copley specializes in antique decoys and 19th- and 20th-century American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Principal Stephen O'Brien Jr., a fourth-generation sportsman with a refined colle...Read more

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$25,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000

About Auction

The Winter Sale 2019 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2019

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 16, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-16 10:00:00 2019-02-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2019 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2019-3820 The sale will offer the opportunity to view and take home world-class paintings and fine bird carvings. Featuring selections from the collections of Alfred Ely, L. H. LaMonte, Grant Nelson, Ronald S. Swanson, Herb Wetanson, and a descendant of Chester F. Spear among others. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Curlew
Daniel Lake Leeds (1852-1922)
Pleasantville, NJ, c. 1890
14 1/2 in. long

This marks the first time that this curlew has ever been offered at public auction. Of the decoy's maker, Daniel Lake Leeds, William J. Mackey, Jr. writes that he carved "...bird decoys including sanderling, plover, yellowlegs, turnstones, and curlew. His own rig, numbering over fifty snipe, came to light a few years ago. It was probably the greatest single find of its kind in New Jersey decoy history. The Dan Leeds birds have a stylized exaggeration that has an artistic appeal."

Revealing just how early this decoy was acquired, an original paper collector's note attached to the underside of this curlew reads "Leeds family curlew- Leeds Pt. NJ. Best Jersey example I have- tail bitten by dog- 35.00." Original paint with light gunning wear and restoration to tail.

Provenance: Richard Mueller Collection
L. H. LaMotte Collection
Private Collection, by descent from the above

Literature: Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey, Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 11, Mackey text.
James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, p. 176, pl. 392, rigmate illustrated.
John M. Levinson and Somers G. Headley, "Shorebirds: The Birds, The Hunters, The Decoys," Centreville, MD, 1991, Contents page and p. 93, pl. 6-35, rigmate illustrated.
Adele Earnest, "The Art of The Decoy: American Bird Carvings," New York, NY, 1965, p. 53, pl. 30, rigmate illustrated.

Condition

Condition report requests can be made via email or by telephone (info@copleyart.com or 617.536.0030). Any condition statement given is a courtesy to customers, Copley will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition.
Shipping Info
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