Eli Doughty Red Knot

Eli Doughty (1844-1923) Hog Island, VA, c. 1870 7 in. long

A full-bodied little robin snipe from Hog Island. Eli Doughty, while less prolific than his Cobb Island neighbors, is considered among the region's most important makers. Indeed, a related curlew can be seen on the front dust-jacket cover of Fleckenstein's "Shorebird Decoys." A closely related red knot is held in the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. The Mackey collection stamp is faintly visible on the underside. Original paint with original stabilization to wood flake on left side and gunning wear.

Provenance: William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Dwight D. Miller Collection

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys from the Collection of the late William J. Mackey Jr. of Belford, New Jersey," Hyannis, MA, 1973, Session I & II, lot 423, exact decoy illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., “Shore Bird Decoys,” Exton, PA, 1980, front cover (in basket), related example illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Dwight D. Miller Collection