Coffin Family Curlew

Charles F. Coffin (1835-1919)(attr.) Nantucket, MA, c. 1870 15 in. long

A rare and early two-piece curlew decoy. This carving is by the same hand as the curlew from the O'Brien Collection featured in Johnsgard's "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form" on page 157. The decoys attributed to C.F. Coffin as well as those attributed to Franklin Folger, Jr. (1842-1918) are considered the best to have come from the whaling seaport of Nantucket. A hollow curlew by this maker set the world record for any Nantucket decoy, selling for over $200,000. Original paint with light gunning wear and a tight crack in the bill.

Provenance: Robert D. Congdon Collection, Nantucket, MA Grant Nelson Collection

Literature: Paul A. Johnsgard, "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form," Lincoln, NE, 1976, p. 157, pl. 179, related decoy illustrated. Guyette and Schmidt, North American Decoys, July 22 & 23, 1999, West Farmington, ME, front cover and lot 151, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Robert D. Congdon Collection, Nantucket, MA Grant Nelson Collection