Charles Sumner Bunn Dowitcher

Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock, Long Island, NY, c. 1900 10 in. long

One of the finest dowitcher decoys known. This richly colored shorebird decoy exhibits pronounced shoulder, cheek, raised-wing, and slightly dropped tail carving. The head has deeply-recessed German bead glass eyes.

In 1970 pioneer decoy collectors William Mackey, Milton Weiler, and Ed Zern wrote in their “Classic Shorebird Decoys” of this maker's work "...[they] have the feel of real birds. His knowledge and study of the live bird and his skill with a knife transferred the feel of the wishbone, the unfolded wings and the modeling of the bone structure to blocks of wood. His was a unique talent not given to any other decoy maker.” Mackey also states “nothing finer has been found ever since.” Original paint with light gunning wear and minor restoration to very tips of wings and less than half of bill tip.

Literature: Dr. Cynthia Byrd, "The Decoys of Long Island," Water Mill, NY, 2010, p. 39, related example illustrated. Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, pp. 68 and 69, related example illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 103, pl. 87, related example illustrated. Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, pl. 3, related decoys illustrated. Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Winter Sale 2015," back cover and lot 381, exact decoy illustrated.