John Dilley Rare Willet

John Dilley Quogue, NY, c. 1890 Although Dilley carved hundreds of plover and dowitchers, his willet production was very limited. Displaying Dilley's very best animated form. In original paint with fine patina. Even gunning wear, rubs to head, sides of body and tail, roughly a half-dozen pin-head sized dents along the back and sides.

Provenance: John Dillworth Collection Sold by Stephen O'Brien, Jr. Fine Arts, 2001 Peter Brams Collection

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., Rare American Decoys and Bird Carvings From the Collection of John Dillworth, Salem, New Jersey, October 23, 1981, lot 380, exact bird. J. Levinson and S. Headley, Shorebirds: The Birds, the Hunters, the Decoys, Centreville, MD, 1991, p. 72, exact bird. H. Fleckenstein, Jr., Shorebird Decoys, Exton, PA, 1983, pp. 37, 86.

Provenance

John Dillworth Collection Sold by Stephen O'Brien, Jr. Fine Arts, 2001 Peter Brams Collection