Mason Decoy Factory Salesman Sample Long-billed Curlew

Mason Decoy Factory (1896-1924) Detroit, MI, c. 1900 17 1/2 in. long

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 grand example measures thirteen and one-quarter inches from the tip of the tail to the front of the breast.

In "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," William J. Mackey Jr. writes, “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.”

This stunning salesman sample fits Mackey’s assessment neatly. In near-mint condition and with no stick hole, it ranks among the top Mason decoys known to exist and closely relates to a fine example previously held in The Peabody Essex Museum Collection. Original paint with minimal wear, including a flake on the left shoulder.

Provenance: Randy Root Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, 1975

Literature: John and Shirley Delph, "Factory Decoys," Exton, PA, 1980, pp. 110-111, exact decoy illustrated twice. Joe Engers, “Dr. Peter J. Muller: Bringing a good eye and an artistic approach to decoy collecting,” Decoy Magazine, January/February 2008, p. 8, exact decoy illustrated. Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 12, closely related example illustrated. Russ J. Goldberger and Alan G. Haid, "Mason Decoys: A Complete Pictorial Guide," Burtonsville, MD, 1993, pp. 106, 107, 136, and back dust jacket, similar decoys illustrated. Alan G. Haid and Brandy S. Culp, "The Allure of the Decoy," Charleston, SC, 2013, p. 61, similar decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Randy Root Collection Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection, acquired from the above, 1975