The catalog record
John McAnney (1866-1949) New Gretna, NJ, c. 1900 13 in. long
McAnney was a lifelong member of the North Brigantine Life-Saving Service, a bayman, and a hunting and fishing guide. According to Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr. in "New Jersey Decoys," he claimed to have never missed a day of any gunning season. He created a refined and effective curlew form with some of the finest paint detail by any New Jersey shorebird decoy maker.
This fine example displays rich textured paint with precise feathering. Original paint with light wear, original bill is reset at base.
Provenance: William C. McMaster M.D. Collection
Literature: John M. Levinson and Somers G. Headley, "Shorebirds," Centreville, MD, 1991, p. 85, exact decoy illustrated.. James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, p. 180, pl. 405, rigmate illustrated. Kenneth L. Gosner, "Working Decoys of the Jersey Coast and Delaware Valley," Cranbury, NJ, 1985, p. 166, rigmate illustrated.
Provenance
William C. McMaster M.D. Collection
Comparable sales
No other John McAnney Curlews in the data yet.
Same maker and species, most recent first. Prices include the buyer's premium. All John McAnney sales