Charles Sumner Bunn Dowitcher

Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock, NY or William "Bill" Bowman (1824-1906) of Bangor, ME and Lawrence, NY, c. 1905

One of the finest Long Island dowitcher decoys known to exist, this bird is from the same gunning rig as the outstanding greater yellowlegs, which was also originally collected by the waterfowl artist, Milton C. Weiler (1910-1974). This important shorebird decoy exhibits pronounced shoulder, cheek, raised-wing, and slightly dropped tail carving. This richly colored bird has deeply-recessed, German bead glass eyes, and its original splined-through bill. The underside of the tail has remnants of a jelly-jar collection label from the Weiler family.

In 1970, pioneer decoy collector William Mackey wrote the text for Weiler’s “Classic Shorebird Decoys” portfolio. Across from Weiler’s Plate No. 3, illustrating “Bowman” shorebirds, Mackey writes: “In hand, Bowman’s decoys 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 minor touch-up by Gigi Hopkins to one side of the bill tip and a hairline neck crack.

Provenance: Milton C. Weiler Collection, by descent in the family

Literature: Dr. Cynthia Byrd, The Decoys of Long Island, Water Mill, NY, 2010, p. 39, similar example illustrated. Quintina Colio, American Decoys, Ephrata, PA, 1972, pp. 68 and 69, similar example illustrated. William J. Mackey, Jr., American Bird Decoys, New York, NY, 1965, p. 103, plate 87, similar example illustrated. Copley Fine Art Auctions, The Sporting Sale 2006, Boston, MA, July, 26 and 27, 2006, lots 273-274, exact decoy and rig mate illustrated.

Provenance

Milton C. Weiler Collection, by descent in the family