Daniel Lake Leeds Black Bellied Plover

Daniel Lake Leeds (1852-1922) Pleasantville, NJ, c. 1890 9 1/2 in. long

Describing this exact decoy and its maker in "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," William J. Mackey, Jr. writes, "Jeremiah Leeds, keeper of the salt flats, left one descendant, Dan Lake Leeds, who carved bird decoys including sanderling, plover, yellowlegs, turnstones, and curlew. His own rig, numbering over fifty snipe, came to light a few years ago. It was probably the greatest single find of its kind in New Jersey decoy history. The Dan Leeds birds have a stylized exaggeration that has an artistic appeal. The black-bellied plover have heads that indicate their local name, ‘bull heads’; the sanderling have a slimness that suggests their speed before the advancing waves. Paint patterns are bright and adequate, and the technique is unusual; Dan used thick oily paint and laid it on instead of brushing it out. This viscous coating made a durable finish, and the rig was found in mint condition. The old gentleman lavished great care on his decoys during their years of service. They stand on their own merit and have little in common with their New Jersey contemporaries."

The underside bears a "Mackey Collection" stamp. Original paint with light gunning wear, age line in breast, cracks in head reset with some filler added.

Provenance: William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection, acquired from auction of the above

Literature: Milton C. Weiler and William J. Mackey, Jr., "Classic Shorebird Decoys: A Portfolio of Paintings," New York, NY, 1971, plate 11, exact decoy illustrated. Laurence Sheehan, "The Sporting Life," New York, NY, 1992, p. 80, exact decoy illustrated. Richard A. Bourne Co., Inc., "Very Rare and Important American Bird Decoys from the Collection of the late William J. Mackey, Jr., of Belford, New Jersey, Hyannis, MA," Session V, July 9, 1974, lot 49, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection, acquired from auction of the above