Verne Cheeseman Masterworks Bluebill

Verne Cheeseman (1897-1956) Macomb, IL, c. 1930 11 1/4 in. long

Verne Cheeseman was a guide for the Sanganois Duck Club. He made decoys primarily for his own use. An acquaintance of Charles and Edna Perdew, Cheeseman often began his decoys using Perdew decoy patterns. He employed the services of Edna Perdew to paint many of his decoys, and, at times, it can be challenging to distinguish between a Cheeseman and a Perdew.

A noticeable difference is the manner in which Cheeseman finished his heads. Cheeseman heads tend to have longer necks or reared-back heads with rather pronounced cheek carving, as seen here. This carving is finished with strong Edna Perdew paint. The underside has a lead strip weight and a "538" stamp. Original Edna Perdew paint with even gunning wear. Old working paint to black and bill.

Provenance: Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection

Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Julie Carlson, "Masterworks of the Illinois River," Boston, MA, 2005, p. 129, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection