Rare Hudsonian Godwit Decoy, Obediah Verity (1813-1901)

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Mar 5, 2022

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• Lot Description
  Rare Hudsonian Godwit
  Obediah Verity (1813-1901)
  Seaford, Long Island, NY, c. 1870
  15 in. long
  
  “Almost any shorebird from the area [Seaford] is highly collectible, for as most advanced collectors will agree there was a consistently high standard set in that small town that knows no equal in the entire world of decoys.” The Verity name is literally synonymous with the sporting mecca of Seaford, having at one time been called Verity Town." — Jeff Waingrow, "American Wildfowl Decoys"
  
  A shorebird that is sometimes seen probing into sand or mud for aquatic invertebrates, the godwit is unmistakable with a large body and slightly upturned bill. The rarity of Godwit decoys may be explained by its dramatic migration pattern. The Audubon Society explains: "Once thought to be very rare, even endangered, this big sandpiper was probably just overlooked on its long migration between the Arctic and southern South America. In spring it moves north across the Great Plains, pausing at marshes and flooded fields more often than at the mudflats thronged by other shorebirds. In fall, most fly nonstop from James Bay, Canada, to South America. Some stop in fall on our Atlantic Coast, especially when driven there by northeasterly winds.”
  
  Decoys depicting this grand shorebird are far less common than plover and curlew, making it highly sought after by astute collectors. Aside from rarity, the form of this early Verity carving places it among the Long Islander’s best patterns. The bold design, incised eyes, and raised wings show the traits that have kept this once-famous sporting destination relevant a century after much of its sport was outlawed. The broad carving displays the classic S-curve at the front of the wing and a sharp V-form at the wing-tip resolution.
  
  The form, surface, and rarity of this 19th-century gunning sculpture place this among the most important Long Island shorebird decoys known.
  Original paint with even gunning wear, most of the gunning paint on underside has been successfully removed back down to original paint. Original bill has been reset.
  
  Literature: Timothy R. Sieger and Dr. Cynthia Byrd, "The Decoys of Long Island," Water Mill, NY, 2010, no Verity godwit illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, p. 43, no Verity godwit illustrated. “Hudsonian Godwit,” Audubon, 20 Oct. 2021, https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/hudsonian-godwit, godwit migration discussed. Guyette and Schmidt, "North American Decoys at Auction, November 10 & 11, 1999," Easton, MD, front cover, exact decoy illustrated and cataloged as a curlew. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 46, New Jersey godwit 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.
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