Harry V. Shourds Redhead Drake

Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1890 A rare, hollow, Barnegat Bay decoy with a faint "J.B. French" collection ink stamp on the underside.

Originally part of the Eshenbaugh collection, Tom Eshenbaugh was one of the great, early decoy collectors. Though largely unheralded, his major decoy collection was purchased in the 1960's by Bill Butler, Hal Sorensen, and Joe French, before the era of most decoy publications. Major pieces in that collection included a Holly swan and a Blair wigeon along with this fine redhead. Original paint with even gunning wear, minor touch-up to right cheek and reset neck.

Provenance: Tom Eshenbaugh Collection Joseph B. French Collection Private Collection, New England

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, p. 61, similar decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., "New Jersey Decoys," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 37, plates XI and XII, similar decoys illustrated. James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, pp. 49-51, similar decoys illustrated.

Provenance

Tom Eshenbaugh Collection Joseph B. French Collection Private Collection, New England