Mason Decoy Factory High-head Curlew

Mason Decoy Factory (1896-1924) Detroit, MI, c. 1900 18 in. long

An oversize curlew with an iron bill. In their 1993 publication on Mason decoys, Goldberger and Haid discuss curlew by Mason as being “huge; the bodies alone are 12-inches long.” This example measures fourteen inches from the tip of the tail to the front of the breast.

William J. Mackey Jr. writes in “Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings:” "Mason's skilled company of woodworkers and artists turned out numerous fine decoys...The Mason curlew...in original paint...would be one of the finest of factory shorebirds. Mason's paint was of unusual high quality...it has mellowed with age, but still retains the original luxurious, gemlike coloring. The method of application was also peculiar to Mason decoys. The paint is applied in a swirling pattern that made it stand up well against the roughest treatment and the saltiest Atlantic tidewaters. The painting style of Mason's decoys is fixed in a traditional, rather rigid pattern, but there is never a feeling of monotony, but rather one of rich ornamentation." Strong original paint with light gunning wear, a reset neck seam, and minor touch-up in a few spots.

Provenance: Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection

Literature: Russ J. Goldberger and Alan G. Haid, "Mason Decoys: A Complete Pictorial Guide," Burtonsville, MD, 1993. Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 12, Mackey text.

Provenance

Dr. Morton D. Kramer Collection