Ira Hudson Plump Long-billed Dowitcher

Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949) Chincoteague, VA, c. 1910 12 in. long

A grand Hudson shorebird with a broad body, plump breast, thin neck, and bold head carving. The body is finished with tight scratch feathering in its turkey-umber plumage. This decoy has excellent provenance, acquired by three of the world's top shorebird decoy collectors. Lloyd Johnson's collecting inscription is found on the underside.

Related examples have also resided in many premier decoy collections. Jim McCleery's favorite decoy, as recorded by authors Shaw and Gard, was a related high-head decoy. A near-perfect rigmate is in the prominent collection of Paul Tudor Jones II.

“As a commercial carver, Hudson produced gunning decoys in a number of grades and price ranges. All of his birds were well made, but his finest decoys, which were probably crafted for the wealthy sportsmen who occasionally visited his shop on Chincoteague, are distinguished by their carefully rendered forms and detailed paint patterns, which often included feathers scratched in wet paint.” — Robert Shaw, Bird Decoys of North America Original paint with light gunning wear, replaced bill.

Provenance: Lloyd Johnson Collection Morton M. Hanson Collection, acquired from the above Dr. Peter Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, 1973

Literature: Joe Engers, ed. "The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys," San Diego, CA, 1990, p. 157, related examples illustrated. Joe Engers, “Dr. Peter J. Muller: Bringing a good eye and an artistic approach to decoy collecting,” Decoy Magazine, January/ February 2008, p. 8, exact decoy illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 161, pl. 135, related decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "Southern Decoys," Exton, PA, 1983, pp. 73-74, similar decoys illustrated. Henry H. Stansbury, "Ira D. Hudson and Family," Lewes, DE, 2002, p. 140, related decoys illustrated. Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 59, related decoy illustrated. Robert Shaw and Ronald Gard, "The McCleery Auction," Dallas, TX, 2001, p. 118, related example illustrated and discussed.

Provenance

Lloyd Johnson Collection Morton M. Hanson Collection, acquired from the above Dr. Peter Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, 1973