Harry Mitchell Shourds Black Duck

Harry M. Shourds (1890-1943) Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1915 An exceptional, historically important hollow decoy with much of its original eel grass still intact. Shourds, along with several other New Jersey makers, occasionally wrapped their decoys with eel grass to cut down on paint glare for the practice of night hunting. This lethal practice was outlawed at the start of the 20th century, hence these decoys are extremely rare. The eel grass is attached to the decoy with old twine looped around a series of tacks around the bottom. Inset rectangular weight with original leather anchor loop. The head’s original paint has beautiful patina; slight seam separation under tail.

Provenance: William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection The University Club of Milwaukee Decoy Collection

Literature: Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., New Jersey Decoys, Exton, PA, 1983, plates 70 and 94, pp. 54, 62.

Provenance

William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection The University Club of Milwaukee Decoy Collection