Gilbert E. Wallace Mackey Dovetailed "lumberyard" Yellowlegs

Dr. Gilbert E. Wallace (1873-1917) Forked River, NJ, c. 1900 9 1/4 in. long

A rare yellowlegs carving with a removable dovetailed head. The vertically-laminated hollow body is finished with raised wings and split and raised wing tips.

The maker used an ingenious method to construct this elaborately designed decoy. The vertical lamination allowed Wallace to not only hollow the body, but also more easily carve out the dovetail cavity. Additionally, the dovetail keystone was applied to the underside of the head rather than carved out of the neck. The underside has the rig numeral "VI" and the Mackey Collection ink stamp. A rigmate that was picked from a museum by Joe French went on set the high-water mark for the maker at $37,500 in 2009.

An extensive biography on Wallace, along with an example of his one-piece decoy, is published in James Doherty's "Classic New Jersey Decoys." Original paint with even gunning wear, including a paint flake under the bill.

Provenance: William J. Mackey Collection Private Collection, by descent from the above Private Collection

Literature: James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, p. 172, fixed-head examples illustrated, Appendix C, xx-xxii, Wallace biography. Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys from the Collection of the late William J. Mackey Jr. of Belford, New Jersey," Hyannis, MA, 1973, Sessions I & II, lot 340, rigmate illustrated. William J. Mackey Jr., “American Bird Decoys.” New York, 1965, pl. 51, rigmate illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey Collection Private Collection, by descent from the above Private Collection