Charles Sumner Bunn Redhead Drake

Charles S. Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock Reservation, Long Island, NY, c. 1920 A hollow swimming decoy with an inset neck seat. The bottom of this decoy is incised "BUNN" and "M" or "W" and has a Mackey collection stamp.

Charles S. Bunn was a well-documented Native American hunting guide and decoy carver, who was known to have guided prominent sportsmen.

The March/April 2004 "Decoy Magazine" displays an image of this exact bird and the end of the caption reads, "We're not sure who bought this decoy at the [Mackey] sale, which sold for $350 that day, but if this Bunn-Bowman is sitting on your shelf we'd love to hear from you." In-use repaint worn down to wood in places with gunning wear, slight body seam separation, repair to neck, and tight cracks.

Provenance: William J. Mackey, Jr. 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 II, 1973, lot 553, exact bird illustrated. Joe Engers, ed., 'Letters', "Decoy Magazine", Lewes, DE, March/April, 2004, p. 28, exact decoy illustrated. Timothy Sieger, "The Decoys of Long Island," Water Mills, NY, 2010, p. 42, similar example illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey, Jr. Private Collection