Mark McNair Rig of Five Golden Plover

Mark S. McNair (b. 1950) Craddockville, VA, c. 1989 A special rig of five Nantucket-style plover decoys. Each bird exhibits highly unusual hollow carving from the body up the neck into the head. They feature glass eyes, carved raised wings and split tails. The exceptional paint on these birds illuminates McNair as one of the masters of his generation. Three have turned heads. Each has a diamond-shaped wood inlay at the dowel hole. All have incised "McNair" signature. Two have handwritten dedications including "Barrie here's lookin at ya" and "Mark 1989"; one is lightly incised "Stavis." In excellent original condition.

Provenance: The Barrie and Bernice Stavis Collection

Literature: Curtis Badger, "Mark McNair" Wildfowl Carving and Collecting, Harrisburg, PA, Summer, 1993, p. 30, exact decoys illustrated.

Provenance

The Barrie and Bernice Stavis Collection