Charles Sumner Bunn The Ward Reaching Greater Yellowlegs

Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock, NY or William "Bill" Bowman (1824-1906) of Bangor, ME, and Lawrence, NY, c. 1900 12 1/2 in. long

An exceptional reaching yellowlegs with bold wing carving, a dropped thigh, and an outstretched head. The form of this distinctive model most closely resembles the Nina-Fletcher-Little-O’Brien curlew pair, which includes a tucked-head decoy and a similar reaching model. This decoy was a prized possession of legendary Long Island dealer Bud Ward, who handled many of the best Verity and Bunn decoys over several decades. Original paint with even gunning wear, minor chips to wing tips with darkening to wood, 1 3/4 inch bill replacement.

Provenance: Bud Ward Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above

Literature: Joe Engers, “Dr. Peter J. Muller: Bringing a good eye and an artistic approach to decoy collecting,” Decoy Magazine, January/February 2008, p. 12, exact decoy illustrated. Adele Earnest, "The Art of the Decoy: American Bird Carvings," New York, NY, 1965, p. 173, related reaching curlew illustrated. James Julia and Gary Guyette, Inc., "Important Waterfowl Decoys & Bird Carvings at Auction, September 20 & 21, 1986,” Kittery, ME, lot 260, exact decoy illustrated. “The Decoy Hunter,” Clinton, IA, July-Aug 1986, p. 12, exact decoy illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, back cover and p. 37, related example illustrated. Loy S. Harrell Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest," Iola, WI, 2000, p. 78, related dropped-thigh, Nina-Fletcher-Little-O'Brien curlew illustrated.

Provenance

Bud Ward Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above