Nathan Rowley Horner Conover-o'brien Horner Goose

Nathan Rowley Horner (1882-1942) West Creek, NJ, c. 1930 21 1/4 in. long

An exceptional and rare Horner goose made with the maker's signature tucked-head style found is his best waterfowl decoys. The full and hollow body is finished with a shoulder groove behind the neck and the maker's patterned, stippled, and blended paint.

This decoy is one of only four known with this form. Two others are held in esteemed private collections and the fourth is a part of the Shelburne Museum collection. Original paint with minimal gunning wear, touch-up to reset neck and to rub on left side.

Provenance: Jack Conover Rig and Collection Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection The Johnson Collection, acquired from Stephen O'Brien Jr. Fine Arts, 1999

Literature: Stephen B. O’Brien Jr., “American, Sporting & Western Paintings, Antique American Bird Decoys,” 1999 Catalog, Boston, MA, 1999, front cover, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Jack Conover Rig and Collection Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection The Johnson Collection, acquired from Stephen O'Brien Jr. Fine Arts, 1999