Mark McNair Stavis Preening Dovetailed Yellowlegs

Mark S. McNair (b. 1950) Craddockville, VA, c. 1980 9 in. long

A hollow decoy with a removable dove-tailed head. This rare model is one of McNair's earliest hollow shorebirds and the stick hole is a separate piece of wood that goes through the entire bird. The underside has a painted "The Stavis Collection," and is incised with a "McNair" signature. Inside the neck joint is an incised "1." A rigmate resides in the maker's personal collection. Barrie and Bernice Stavis were two of McNair's best and earliest patrons. Birds from the Stavis Collection have set numerous firm and species records and are considered to be some of the maker's premier works. Original paint with light wear.

Provenance: The Barrie and Bernice Stavis Collection Private Collection, by descent from the above

Literature: Bob Ridges,"Decoy Ducks," New York, NY, 1988, pp. 83 and 165, rigmates illustrated.

Provenance

The Barrie and Bernice Stavis Collection Private Collection, by descent from the above