Charles Sumner Bunn Running Golden Plover

Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock Reservation, NY or William "Bill" Bowman of Bangor, ME, and Lawrence, NY, c. 1890 11 in. long

This decoy is one of only a few plover that the carver ever made in this position. It shares similar form with the curlew from the Nina Fletcher Little Collection.

In 1970, pioneer decoy collector William Mackey wrote this text for Weiler’s Classic Shorebird Decoys portfolio. Of the maker’s work, Mackey writes, “Bowman’s decoys have the feel of real birds. His knowledge and study of the live bird and his skill with a knife transferred the feel of the wishbone, the unfolded wings and the modeling of the bone structure to blocks of wood. His was a unique talent not given to any other decoy maker.” Mackey also states, “Nothing finer has been found ever since.”

This shorebird decoy exhibits pronounced shoulder, cheek, and raised-wing carving. The reaching head has deeply recessed, German bead glass eyes. Original paint with gunning wear, wear to top of the head, age lines, and a small tail tip chip. Bill is a possible replacement.

Provenance: Russell B. Aitken Collection Grant Nelson Collection

Literature: Timothy Sieger, "The Decoys of Long Island," Water Mills, NY, 2010, p. 40, related example illustrated. Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., "Shore Bird Decoys," Exton, PA, 1980, p. 48, plate 49, related decoy illustrated. "The Decoy Hunter," Clinton, Indiana, Nov./Dec. 1982, p. 10, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Russell B. Aitken Collection Grant Nelson Collection