William Humphrey Greater Yellowlegs

William Humphrey (1823-1880s) Toronto, Ontario, Canada, c. 1870 13 1/2 in. long and 13 in. tall

From a rig of only eight, this boldly carved shorebird is among the finest Canadian shorebirds to come on the market. The animated body was finished with excellent stippling from head to tail. The original wrapped thighs remain intact around the pair of wire legs. The underside is marked with the Nelson Collection ink stamp.

A related example resides in the Harbinson Collection of the Canadian Museum of History (Musee Canadien de L'Historie). Original paint with gunning wear.

Provenance: Grant Nelson Collection Private Collection

Literature: Jackson Parker, "The Year in Review: The Decoy at Auction 2002," "Decoy Magazine," 2002, p. 19, no. 46, exact bird illustrated. Patricia Fleming, ed., "Traditions in Wood," Toronto, Ontario, 1987, p. 126, related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Grant Nelson Collection Private Collection