Verity Family The Surace Feeding Plover

Obediah Verity (1813-1901) Seaford, Long Island, NY, c. 1870 9 3/4 in. long

“Verity’s most distinctive form is a feeding shorebird, with its bulbous head bent down and forward, its fixed eyes seemingly intent on some choice morsel before it. The outline of the bending form is a series of graceful unbroken curves that extend from the tip of the tail over and around all sides of the body, neck, and head.” -Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America"

This bold Verity design displays a deep feeding pose that perfectly captures the probing nature of the species. The side of the tail features a stringing hole for transportation. This bird features everything that seasoned collectors look for in a Verity: carved eyes, raised S-curve wings, V-shape primaries, tight stippled paint, and a full belly.

Russ Fink selected this exact decoy as the front cover feature of his 1976 "Catalog of American Bird Decoys" which featured the collection of Frank Surace of Long Island. Frank Surace was one of the earliest decoy collectors from Long Island and one of the Long Island Decoy Collectors Association's founding members in 1971. He, along with his friends William Mackey and Milt Weiler, traveled together with a briefcase full of cash on decoy-picking road trips. Some working over-paint taken down to original paint, moderate gunning wear, a crack under the replaced bill, and a rub to left wing.

Provenance: Frank Surace Collection Private Collection, Texas, acquired from Stephen O'Brien Fine Arts

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 180, related example illustrated. Jeff Waingrow, "American Wildfowl Decoys," New York, NY, 1989, p. 42, related yellowlegs illustrated. Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 19, related example illustrated. Russell A. Fink, “Catalog of American Bird Decoys,” Lorton, VA, 1976, front cover, title page, and number 194, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Frank Surace Collection Private Collection, Texas, acquired from Stephen O'Brien Fine Arts