Mark McNair Stavis "high-tri" Merganser Pair

Mark S. McNair (b. 1950) Craddockville, VA, c. 1993 15 in. long

A singular and robust pair of red-breasted mergansers with high-bodied and pegged construction made for the Stavis Collection. The hen is holding a mollusk in her bill. The underside of the drake carving bears a rarely seen incised “M. S. McNair” signature and the hen has an incised "McNair" signature.

This rare design is an evolution of the maker's "tri-merganser" model and McNair refers to it as the "high-tri." This pair was the cover feature of the summer 1993 issue of "Wildfowl Carving and Collecting" magazine. They are considered to be two of the maker's most unique models to date. Excellent original paint and light wear.

Provenance: The Barrie and Bernice Stavis Collection Private Collection, by descent from the above

Literature: Curtis Badger, "Mark McNair," Wildfowl Carving and Collecting, Harrisburg, PA, Summer, 1993, front cover, exact decoys illustrated.

Provenance

The Barrie and Bernice Stavis Collection Private Collection, by descent from the above