McCleery Salesman's Sample Black-Bellied Plover Decoy by Mason Decoy Factory (1896-1924)

Lot 133

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

Bid Increments

Price	Bid Increment
$0	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,500	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$25,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000

About Auction

The Winter Sale 2024, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2024, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 23, 2024

Set Reminder 2024-02-23 10:00:00 2024-02-23 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2024, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2024-day-1-14595 Lots 1-238 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (238)

Lot Description

McCleery Salesman's Sample Black-Bellied Plover
Mason Decoy Factory (1896-1924)
Detroit, MI, c. 1900
10 1/4 in. long

This carving is the best of its kind, with extra attention paid by the painter executing the developed plumage swirls and the curation of the decoy by Dr. McCleery, who had his pick of many dozens of Mason plover over his decades of collecting and upgrading.

A one-of-a-kind salesman's sample shorebird decoy by the Mason Decoy Factory, inscribed "Black Breast Plover, $7.50. Dz." on the underside. This "A-1" grade shorebird decoy exhibits breeding plumage in its painted feather detail with early swirled and stippled paint. The bottom is also stamped "McCLEERY."

Historically, salesmen would carry examples of the decoys illustrated in the catalog when pursuing orders for their company. This example was one of six salesman's sample decoys, each a different species, acquired by noted New Jersey collector, Mort Hanson.

Dr. McCleery, widely known as one of the leading decoy collectors of all time, once proclaimed, "Masons - The undisputed royalty of factory made decoys." Illustrating McCleery as a factory decoy aficionado, the McCleery auction sale catalog tallies well over a quarter of his bird decoys as factory made.
Original paint with minor wear.

Provenance: Mort Hanson Collection
Dr. James M. McCleery Collection
Mark Smith Collection
Private Collection

Literature: Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 12. Russ J. Goldberger and Alan G. Haid, "Mason Decoys: A Complete Pictorial Guide," Burtonsville, MD, 1993, pp. 106, 107, 136, and back dust-jacket cover, similar decoys illustrated. Jackson Parker, "Auction News," Decoy Magazine, May/June 2000, pp. 40-42, p. 40, exact decoy illustrated.

Condition

Please email condition report requests to colin@copleyart.com. 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
- Shipping info
  
  Copley does not offer in-house packing or shipping. For clients who require shipping, please complete the Shipping Release Form and return it with your payment. The form includes a list of shippers we frequently work with.