Mark McNair Calling Crow

Mark S. McNair (b. 1950) Craddockville, VA, 1988 20 1/2 in. long

“Mark McNair is the dean of contemporary decoy carvers. We have all the great masters here at the Shelburne Museum: Albert Laing, Elmer Crowell, Charles 'Shang' Wheeler... and it really speaks to Mark's place within this field that he is the only living artist we have in the museum's collection.”

— Kory Rogers, The Francie and John Downing Senior Curator of American Art, Shelburne Museum, Vermont

This slightly oversize crow, at twenty-two inches long, is nearly as large as a raven. This rare and grand carving has a hollow body, raised wings, and animated pose with an open bill. The legs are made of heavy copper wire with wrapped cord. The underside of the tail bears an incised "McNAIR 1988." Original paint with light wear.