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THBThe Kinnaman Running Turnstone Decoy
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
LiveFeb 19, 2021
Lots 1-292 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
View Full Catalog (292)
- Lot Description
Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock, NY
or William "Bill" Bowman (1824-1906) of Bangor, ME, and Lawrence, NY, c. 1900
9 in. long
An exceedingly rare species carved in an animated pose. This alert shorebird decoy exhibits pronounced shoulder, cheek, and raised-wing carving. The reaching head has recessed, German bead-glass eyes. The underside is marked with Robert Lawrence's "R.L." brand by the slightly dropped-thigh and two stick holes.
In 1971 pioneer decoy collector William Mackey wrote the text for Weiler's "Classic Shorebird Decoys" portfolio. Mackey writes that the maker's "...decoys have the feel of real birds. His knowledge and study of the live bird and his skill with a knife transferred the feel of the wishbone, the unfolded wings and the modeling of the bone structure to blocks of wood. His was a unique talent not given to any other decoy maker." Mackey also states, "Nothing finer has been found ever since."
This small decoy reveals the same dropped-thigh form as the famous Nina-Fletcher-Little-O'Brien curlew pair. Only one related running turnstone is known, also from the Lawrence rig, and these Long Island gems rank among the finest of the species by any maker.
Original paint with even gunning wear, including minor chipping and rubs to wing and tail tips.
Provenance: Robert Lawrence Rig
Robert Kinnaman Collection
Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection
Literature: Joe Engers, "Dr. Peter J. Muller: Bringing a good eye and an artistic approach to decoy collecting," Decoy Magazine, January/February 2008, p. 12, exact decoy illustrated. Sotheby's, "Sale Catalog New York, NY, October 1997," lot 179, rigmate illustrated. Timothy Sieger, "The Decoys of Long Island," Water Mills, NY, 2010, p. 40, similar example illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, color pl. II, related turnstone with Crowell attribution. Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 3, Mackey quote, and related examples illustrated.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.Condition
- Shipping Info
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Copley Fine Art Auctions does not handle the shipping of any items. Shipping is the sole responsibility of the buyer. Once your payment has cleared and we have received your shipping form, items may be released for shipment. Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC shall have no liability for any loss or damage to such items. Buyers should allow up to four weeks for shipment.
Please be aware that internet bidders may NOT not pick up their items at the sale. Items will be available for pick up by appointment or by shippers five days after the sale.
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