Daniel Lake Leeds Black Bellied Plover

Daniel Lake Leeds (1852-1922) Pleasantville, NJ, c. 1890 9 3/4 in. long

A New Jersey classic with raised wings, a well-rounded head, and thick stippled feathering.

In "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," William J. Mackey Jr.'s text reads: "Jeremiah Leeds, keeper of the salt flats, left one descendant, Dan Lake Leeds, who carved bird decoys including sanderling, plover, yellowlegs, turnstones, and curlew. His own rig, numbering over fifty snipe, came to light a few years ago. It was probably the greatest single find of its kind in New Jersey decoy history. The Dan Leeds birds have a stylized exaggeration that has an artistic appeal. The black-bellied plover have heads that indicate their local name, "bull heads," the sanderling have a slimness that suggests their speed before the advancing waves. Paint patterns are bright and adequate, and the technique is unusual; Dan used thick oily paint and laid it on instead of brushing it out. This viscous coating made a durable finish, and the rig was found in mint condition. The old gentleman lavished great care on his decoys during their years of service." Original paint with light wear, minor touch-up around right eye.

Provenance: Private Collection, New Jersey

Literature: Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 11, Mackey text. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, p. 55, similar shorebird illustrated. James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, front cover, and pl. 400, related decoys illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, New Jersey