Harry V. Shourds The Mackey-o'brien Shourds Hudsonian Curlew

Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1890 12 1/2 in. long

The smaller size of both the body and bill of this carving, in comparison to the previous curlew, lot 100, suggests that Shourds intended to represent a whimbrel. The underside displays the stamp that denotes the Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection along an inscription by William J. Mackey Jr. on the underside which reads: "TAKEN BY SAIL TO LOCUSTVILLE VA BY ASH MILLINER MARKET HUNTER 1875-1952." Original paint with even gunning wear and original age line through neck and back.

Provenance: William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection Private Collection, Florida

Literature: Peter Johnson and Alf Wannenburgh, “The World of Shooting,” Lausanne, Switzerland, 1987, pp. 259-261, exact decoy illustrated. Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys, Sessions I-II," Hingham, MA, 2017, front inside boards of hard-cover edition, pp. 138-143, lots 68-75, exact decoy in O'Brien Shourds rig illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey Jr. Collection Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection Private Collection, Florida