William A. Bill Harris Bull Head Plover
William A. "Bill" Harris (1862-1912) Atlantic City, NJ, c. 1890
The catalog record
William A. "Bill" Harris (1862-1912) Atlantic City, NJ, c. 1890 Originally collected in Massachusetts, this well-documented shorebird decoy is thought to be an early carving by Harris. Harris lived in several Jersey shore towns and is known for his "Brigantine Bullheads" which were shorebird decoys later collected by Dr. Jack Conover. Original paint, worn to the wood, with even gunning wear and an in-use bill replacement.
Provenance: Dr. John F. Reiger Collection
Literature: John M. Levinson and Somers G. Headley, "Shorebirds," Centreville, MD, 1991, p. 60, exact decoy illustrated.
Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr. "Shore Bird Decoys," Exton, PA, 1980, p.72, plate 76, exact decoy illustrated.
Provenance
Dr. John F. Reiger Collection
Comparable sales
The 3 most recent William A. Bill Harris Plovers to cross the block.
| Sold | Condition | Paint | Brought |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2025 | — | Original | $750 |
| Mar 2022 | — | Original | $1,080 |
| Jul 2021 | — | Original | $3,000 |
Same maker and species, most recent first. Prices include the buyer's premium. All William A. Bill Harris sales