Dowitcher by William J. Matthews (1855-1930s)

Lot 360

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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About Auction

The Winter Sale 2016 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2016

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 12, 2016 - Feb 13, 2016

Set Reminder 2016-02-12 11:00:00 2016-02-13 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2016 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2016-1233 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

William J. Matthews (1855-1930s)
Assawoman, VA, c. 1890

A slightly turned-head shorebird decoy with elliptical painted eyes and sharp V-cut wing tips. The Matthews rig was used on Assawoman Island located just below Chincoteague. The 1920 U.S. Federal Census lists a sixty-five-year-old William J. Matthews as an oysterman boarding on Chincoteague with Charles W. Purnell and William H. Purnell, the grandfather and father of this decoy's consignor. When pioneer decoy collector William Mackey, Jr. purchased the gunning rig from the Matthews' estate, it consisted of shorebird decoys carved by several different talented Virginia makers. A "P" for the Purnell Collection is branded on the underside along with the Mackey Collection ink stamp.

Provenance: William Matthews Rig
Estate of William Matthews
William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above
William H. Purnell, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys from the Collection of William J. Mackey, Jr., of Belford, NJ," Session IV, October 20, 1973, lot 267, exact decoy illustrated. Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 60, rigmate decoy illustrated. William J. Mackey, Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 160, plate 133, rigmates illustrated.

Condition

Original paint with even gunning wear.
Shipping Info
- Shipping info
  
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