Verity Family Running Sanderling

Obediah Verity (1813-1901) Seaford, Long Island, NY, c. 1870 A running peep decoy in rare reddish breeding plumage. The plump body has carved eyes, raised S-wing carving, V-shape primary carving, and excellent stippled paint characteristic of the Seaford school. This little decoy sat prominently under the previous lot (106) on Dr. James M. McCleery’s living room shelf. It measures seven and one-half inches from tip to tail.

While several other running sanderlings attributed to this maker have surfaced over the last decade, this example with its bold wing carving, extended bill, and impeccable provenance hailing from both the William J. Mackey, Jr. and Dr. James M. McCleery collections may be the finest known to exist. It bears each collection's stamp on the underside. Excellent original paint with light even gunning wear.

Provenance: William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Dr. James M. McCleery Collection Private Collection

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co. Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys, From the Collection of the late William J. Mackey, Jr. of Belford, New Jersey," Hyannis, MA, Session IV, 1973, lot 203, exact bird illustrated. Sotheby's and Guyette & Schmidt, "American Waterfowl Decoys: The Distinguished Collection of Dr. James M. McCleery," New York, NY, 2000, lot 424, exact decoy illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, p. 43, exact decoy illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 180, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Dr. James M. McCleery Collection Private Collection