The McCleery-Holmes Plover by Lothrop Holmes (1824-1899)

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The Sporting Sale 2016

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 24, 2016 - Jul 25, 2016

Set Reminder 2016-07-24 10:00:00 2016-07-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2016 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2016-1579
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• Lot Description
  The McCleery-Holmes Plover
  Lothrop Holmes (1824-1899)
  Kingston, MA, c. 1880
  11 1/4 in. long
  
  Many consider Lothrop Holmes to be the top decoy maker of all time. Dr. James M. McCleery is among the top decoy collectors of all time.
  
  Hailing from the rig of J. C. Willis, this plump black-bellied plover sits at the zenith of all Holmes shorebirds that have surfaced. The likeness of species in this carving is striking. Known for his confident interpretation of plumage, Holmes delivers his full suite of techniques on this bird. The paint has mellowed to a dry original surface with warm patina.
  
  This bird features everything that seasoned collectors look for in a Massachusetts shorebird, including a renowned maker, impeccable provenance, rarity, exceptional form and paint, and stellar condition. Dr. McCleery placed this decoy on the center of his living room shorebirds shelves, facing the famous Holmes ruddy turnstone. A single rigmate is known to exist, a plover from the the Russell B. Aitken Collection, making this bird one of the most coveted and rarest to ever be offered for sale.
  
  The underside retains the McCleery Collection stamp and "J. C. WILLIS" is painted under the tail. Willis and his partner Issac Watts were merchants in Boston's Faneuil Hall where they sold fresh game birds, butter, cheese, and eggs. Historical receipts show market gunner and fellow bird carver, A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), sent Willis and Watts black ducks, grouse, quail, and shorebirds. Crowell shipped his bounty from Cape Cod to Boston via rail.
  
  This plover has come from the same collections as the Phillips-Crowell preening pintail and Long-Crowell preening goose, it is featured in no less than five major decoy publications, and is one of the most celebrated shorebird decoys in existence.
  Original paint and bill with very minimal gunning wear.
  
  Provenence: J.C. Willis Rig
  Private Collection, Massachusetts
  James M. McCleery, M.D. Collection
  Private Collection
  
  Literature: John and Shirley Delph, "New England Decoys," Exton, PA, 1990, p. 122, exact decoy illustrated, image reversed.
  Sotheby's and Guyette & Schmidt, "American Waterfowl Decoys: The Distinguished Collection of Dr. James M. McCleery," New York, NY, 2000, p. 206, lot 540, exact decoy illustrated.
  Joe Engers, ed. "The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys," San Diego, CA, 1990, p. 46, exact decoy illustrated.
  Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.,"Houston, TX, 1992, p. 29, exact decoy illustrated.
  Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 154, exact decoy illustrated.
  Richard W. Oliver, "Rare and Important American Bird Decoys," Kennebunk, ME, July 1986, lot 562, exact decoy illustrated.
• Shipping Info

  • Shipping info

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• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	20.00
    $1,000,000	15.00