Verne Cheeseman Tucked-head Ring-neck

Verne Cheeseman (1897-1956) Macomb, IL, c. 1930 12 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 Perdew weight. Original paint and working paint to head and black with moderate gunning wear.

Provenance: Walter White Collection Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection

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

Provenance

Walter White Collection Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection