Dave Umbrella Watson Purnell Watson Pintail Hen

Dave "Umbrella" Watson (1851-1938) Chincoteague, VA, c. 1925 17 1/2 in. long

"A couple of interesting and well-informed guides led the way to the former home of Dave Watson, who departed this earth in 1938 [sic]. My two worthy leaders were Delbert [“Cigar”] Daisey and Millard Jones, historians of both the past and present sporting scene on Chincoteague Island's east side. Actually, without their memories and assistance Dave Watson, the finest carver of decoys that Accomack County, Virginia, produced, would still be unknown. The Watson homestead stands in a quiet spot back from the main road, safe from the summer traffic. Nothing remains to encourage a decoy pilgrimage. Even the knee-high pile of wood shavings, which must be viewed as the all-time fire hazard, is gone. But it seemed the best possible time and place to review what little is known about its former owner, known as "Umbrella" because he never left the house without carrying one. This quirk intrigued and surprised many members of the community of Chincoteague. Year by year the inevitable legend of the umbrella grew, but collectors have not allowed this eccentricity to dim the image of his carving skill. Watson had another habit, too. In a community of men who wore rubber boots as a way of life, the champion was Dave Watson, who was never seen in public or private without the inevitable boots. From head to toe, "Umbrella" or "Bootsie" was the driest carver on record." — William J. Mackey Jr., Milton Weiler, and Ed Zern, "The Classic Decoy Series: A Portfolio of Paintings"

David “Umbrella” Watson is among the most distinct and revered of all Southern decoy makers. He first left Delaware for Willis Wharf, Virginia, on the upper edge of Northampton County. From there, he eventually settled up the Intracoastal Waterway in Accomack County on the island of Chincoteague. Watson earned his “Umbrella” moniker by always having one on hand, regardless of the weather. He's also said to have worn boots at all times and is also referred to as "Bootsie." In studying his exceptional decoys, it appears his broad regional exposure, paired with his peculiar personality, may have led to Watson’s unique approach to decoy making. His decoys have a style all their own with hollow bodies, which were not common in Accomack, raised wing tips, and highly pronounced eyebrow carving, finished with exceptionally detailed paint patterns using a suite of brush techniques.

William Purnell owned the best decoys from this Watson rig. In the “Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys,” Purnell and his co-author relay that Watson "...made brant, geese, and black ducks primarily with a few canvasbacks, redheads, pintails, and bluebills and a limited number of shorebirds. The painstaking care that his carvings show is evidence of the time it took to carve them. He was a slow carver, and most of his decoys were too expensive for the average hunter.” Indeed, this pintail was not made for the average hunter. It was crafted for the well-appointed Assateague Rod & Gun Club, just east across the channel from Chincoteague. It seems to have been incidentally preserved by the Great Depression. The Club was thriving in the 1920s, then in 1938 this rig was salvaged from an Assateague shed that was to be razed.

Today the Assateague Club’s few surviving pintails are recognized as Watson’s most important works and they are second-to-none among all Southern pintails. This hen is rare and unsurpassed by any Watson decoy to have surfaced and represents a unique opportunity to acquire an iconic Southern carving.

Collectors, authors, and curators have celebrated this carving for decades. Flipping the hen over, a look at the underside reveals nine unique rig, collector, and exhibition markings, including Purnell's "P" and "WHP Jr" brands, and the oval tag imprint of Charlie Hunter, and the Assateague Rod & Gun Club's paw-logo brand. Excellent original paint with even gunning wear.

Provenance: Assateague Rod & Gun Club William H. Purnell Jr. Collection Charlie Hunter Collection Donald Kirson Collection

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 211, exact decoy illustrated. Joe Engers, ed., “The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys,” San Diego, CA, 1990, pp. 153-154, Watson discussed, p. 158, exact decoy illustrated. John Clayton, “Massachusetts Masters: Decoys, Shorebirds, and Decorative Carvings,” The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, 2010, pp. 47, exact decoy illustrated. Paul A. Johnsgard, "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form," Lincoln, NE, 1976, p. 47, exact decoy illustrated.

Exhibited: Lincoln, Nebraska, "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form," Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 1975. Salisbury, Maryland, The Ward Museum.

Provenance

Assateague Rod & Gun Club William H. Purnell Jr. Collection Charlie Hunter Collection Donald Kirson Collection