Lothrop Holmes Exceedingly Rare Ruddy Turnstone

Lothrop Holmes (1824-1899) Kingston, MA, c. 1870 One of only three or four ruddy turnstone shorebird decoys by Holmes known to exist. Two known examples reside in private collections in Connecticut. One of these examples was originally in the collection of Dr. George Ross Starr, Jr. of Duxbury, MA and was the subject of the 1979 Massachusetts Duck Stamp. Even gunning wear; worn to the wood in places; lightly hit by shot; one half of the bill is a professional replacement with minor touch up.

Literature: Richard A. Bourne Co. Inc., "Rare American Decoys and Bird Carvings," July 14, 1982, lot 629, exact bird illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D." Houston, TX, 1992, pp. 28-29.