Daniel Lake Leeds Black Bellied Plover

Daniel Lake Leeds (1852-1922) Pleasantville, NJ, c. 1890 9 1/2 in. long

Describing a rigmate and its maker in "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," William J. Mackey Jr. writes, "Jeremiah Leeds, keeper of the salt flats, left one descendant, Dan Lake Leeds, who carved bird decoys including sanderling, plover, yellowlegs, turnstones, and curlew. His own rig, numbering over fifty snipe, came to light a few years ago. It was probably the greatest single find of its kind in New Jersey decoy history. The Dan Leeds birds have a stylized exaggeration that has an artistic appeal. The black-bellied plover have heads that indicate their local name, ‘bull heads,’ the sanderling have a slimness that suggests their speed before the advancing waves. Paint patterns are bright and adequate, and the technique is unusual; Dan used thick oily paint and laid it on instead of brushing it out. This viscous coating made a durable finish, and the rig was found in mint condition. The old gentleman lavished great care on his decoys during their years of service. They stand on their own merit and have little in common with their New Jersey contemporaries."

A raised-wing beetle-head carving displaying Leed's signature wet lively paint with tight stippled mottling. This decoy has been in the collections of Lloyd Johnson and Linda E. Johnson, with the former's notes written under the tail. Original paint with light gunning wear, minor working touch-up to white patches on front, and a replaced bill.

Provenance: Lloyd Johnson Collection Linda E. Johnson Collection Private Collection

Literature: 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, Session V-VI, July 9-10, 1974, lot 49, rigmate illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 190, similar decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Lloyd Johnson Collection Linda E. Johnson Collection Private Collection