Harry V. Shourds Swimming Black Duck

Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1890 An exceedingly rare, hollow, swimming, black duck displaying tack eyes, carved bill detail, bold scratch painted feathering, and the original rigging. This is one of the finest Shourds decoys known and considered one of the pinnacle working decoys to come out of New Jersey. Only a few of these swimming black ducks by this master carver are known to exist. In exceptional original paint with light gunning wear and age line in tail.

Provenance: Brodie Henson Collection Robinson Bosworth Collection Tom Bosworth Collection Private Collection

Literature: Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., "New Jersey Decoys," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 54, plate 70, similar decoy illustrated. James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, p. 41, rigmate illustrated.

Provenance

Brodie Henson Collection Robinson Bosworth Collection Tom Bosworth Collection Private Collection