William J. Matthews Dowitcher

William J. Matthews (1855-1930s) Assawoman, VA, c. 1890 A slightly turned-head shorebird decoy with elliptical painted eyes and sharp V-cut wing tips. The Matthews rig was used on Assawoman Island located just below Chincoteague. The 1920 U.S. Federal Census lists a sixty-five-year-old William J. Matthews as an oysterman boarding on Chincoteague with Charles W. Purnell and William H. Purnell, the grandfather and father of this decoy's consignor. When pioneer decoy collector William Mackey, Jr. purchased the gunning rig from the Matthews' estate, it consisted of shorebird decoys carved by several different talented Virginia makers. A "P" for the Purnell Collection is branded on the underside along with the Mackey Collection ink stamp. Original paint with even gunning wear.

Provenance: William Matthews Rig Estate of William Matthews William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above William H. Purnell, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys from the Collection of William J. Mackey, Jr., of Belford, NJ," Session IV, October 20, 1973, lot 267, exact decoy illustrated. Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 60, rigmate decoy illustrated. William J. Mackey, Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, p. 160, plate 133, rigmates illustrated.

Provenance

William Matthews Rig Estate of William Matthews William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above William H. Purnell, Jr. Collection, acquired from the above