John Henry Birch Curlew

John Henry Birch Amityville, Long Island, NY, c. 1850 An early Long Island shorebird decoy with carved eyes, a tenoned and splined bill, and the carver's incised "JHB" initials on the underside. This bird was part of the historic Thorne rig that was used for decades on Long Island, and sold in July 2001 by Decoys Unlimited. Original paint with in-use repaint to breast and the underside, which has an age crack with gunning wear.

Provenance: Thorne Rig, Long Island, New York by descent to William Thorne, c. 1950 Private Collection, Delaware

Literature: William J. Mackey, Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, plate 79, similar birds illustrated.

Provenance

Thorne Rig, Long Island, New York by descent to William Thorne, c. 1950 Private Collection, Delaware