Charles Sumner Bunn The Kinnaman Willet

Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock, NY or William "Bill" Bowman (1824-1906) of Bangor, ME, and Lawrence, NY, c. 1900 11 3/4 in. long

In 1971 Milton Weiler’s “Classic Shorebird Decoys” portfolio was published with text by William J. Mackey Jr. Across from Weiler’s Plate No. 3, illustrating related shorebirds, Mackey writes, “In hand [the maker's] decoys have the feel of real birds. His knowledge and study of the live bird and his skill with a knife transferred the feel of the wishbone, the unfolded wings and the modeling of the bone structure to blocks of wood. His was a unique talent not given to any other decoy maker.” Mackey also states, “Nothing finer has been found ever since.”

This is the finest example of this willet model to have surfaced by the maker. Better than any of the other known examples, it has retained its lively plumage which is represented with unsurpassed effect and efficiency. The form is one of the maker’s most elaborate, with its bold body and exceptionally refined wing carving. This form relates closely to the Bunn plover, which once set the world record for any decoy at auction, and the McCleery curlew, which holds the record for the maker at auction. At over eleven inches, the diameter of the body nearly reaches the grand form’s length. "The shorebirds are ‘sui generis,’” writes historian and curator Bob Shaw, “carved to suggest nuances of body forms and underlying bone and muscle that no other carver even attempted.” Regarding his best works, Shaw states, “[They] transcend the decoy genre to rank among the finest bird portraits created by an American artist.” Excellent original paint with even gunning wear, one wing tip is reset and both have some chipping at the tips, some typical paint flaking on bill.

Provenance: Robert Kinnaman Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, pp. 180-181, related examples illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, back cover and pp. 36-37, related examples illustrated. “The Decoy Hunter,” Clinton, IA, March-April 1982, front cover, related example illustrated. Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey, Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 3, quote. Timothy Sieger, "The Decoys of Long Island," Water Mills, NY, 2010, front dust-jacket cover, frontispiece, and pp. 38-39, related curlew and willet illustrated.

Provenance

Robert Kinnaman Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection