Harry V. Shourds Bufflehead

Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1890 An extremely rare Shourds decoy out of the famed Hazelhurst Club rig. Branded “Hazelhurst” and retains the “Hillman Collection” ink stamp. This museum quality decoy exhibits the graceful, ship-like traits that New Jersey decoy and folk art collectors covet and has been featured in no less than three books. Outstanding original paint with minor gunning wear; two very fine stress cracks in the neck, slight body seam separation, otherwise the condition is near mint.

Provenance: Hazelhurst Rig John Hillman Collection Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Literature: Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., "Decoys of the Mid-Atlantic Region," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 140, exact decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., "New Jersey Decoys," Exton, PA, 1983, color plate XIV, p. 38, exact decoy illustrated. Gary Guyette and Frank Schmidt, Inc., "The Hillman Collection: Rare Antique Waterfowl Decoys," St. Michaels, MD, April 25-26, 1996, lot 635, p. 153, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Hazelhurst Rig John Hillman Collection Private Collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts