The Surace Feeding Plover Decoy by Obediah Verity (1813-1901)

Lot 111

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 Sporting Sale 2023, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2023, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 13, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-07-13 10:00:00 2023-07-13 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2023, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2023-day-1-12989 Lots 1-243 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

The Surace Feeding Plover
Obediah Verity (1813-1901)
Seaford, Long Island, NY, c. 1870
9 3/4 in. long

“Verity’s most distinctive form is a feeding shorebird, with its bulbous head bent down and forward, its fixed eyes seemingly intent on some choice morsel before it. The outline of the bending form is a series of graceful unbroken curves that extend from the tip of the tail over and around all sides of the body, neck, and head.” -Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America"

This bold Verity design displays a deep feeding pose that perfectly captures the probing nature of the species. The side of the tail features a stringing hole for transportation. This bird features everything that seasoned collectors look for in a Verity: carved eyes, raised S-curve wings, V-shape primaries, tight stippled paint, and a full belly.

Russ Fink selected this exact decoy as the front cover feature of his 1976 "Catalog of American Bird Decoys" which featured the collection of Frank Surace of Long Island. Frank Surace was one of the earliest decoy collectors from Long Island and one of the Long Island Decoy Collectors Association's founding members in 1971. He, along with his friends William Mackey and Milt Weiler, traveled together with a briefcase full of cash on decoy-picking road trips.
Some working over-paint taken down to original paint, moderate gunning wear, a crack under the replaced bill, and a rub to left wing.

Provenance: Frank Surace Collection
Private Collection, Texas, acquired from Stephen O'Brien Fine Arts

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 180, related example illustrated. Jeff Waingrow, "American Wildfowl Decoys," New York, NY, 1989, p. 42, related yellowlegs illustrated. Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 19, related example illustrated. Russell A. Fink, “Catalog of American Bird Decoys,” Lorton, VA, 1976, front cover, title page, and number 194, 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
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