Joseph Lincoln Black Bellied Plover

Joseph W. Lincoln (1859-1939) (attr.) Accord, MA, c. 1880 This decoy is distinctively animated with its skyward reaching head and graceful sweeping tail.

Massachusetts, with its bountiful shorebird hunting grounds, produced a great number of shorebird decoy makers. Dozens of talented carvers were known to have worked within a hundred mile radius of Boston. Within that group, perhaps no other maker, save the master A. E. Crowell, is as well-known as Lincoln within collecting circles. During his lifetime Lincoln produced hundreds of plover decoys in several grades, perhaps none more bold and racy than this early plover.

Measuring twelve and one-quarter inches in length, this decoy is the same size as Harry V. Long's Crowell dust-jacket plover and bears a striking resemblance. This singular oversized plover by this important Massachusetts maker is the only one of its type to have surfaced. This auction marks the first time that this decoy has been publicly offered for sale since 1973.

The underside bears the Mackey Collection ink stamp. Original paint with fine patina, even gunning wear, a minor tail chip, and worn stick hole.

Provenance: William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Asa Allen Collection Private Collection

Literature: 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 III, 1973, lot 323, exact bird illustrated. Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC, "The Harry V. Long Collection of A. Elmer Crowell Decoys," The Sporting Sale, Boston, MA, 2009, pp. 82-86.

Provenance

William J. Mackey, Jr. Collection Asa Allen Collection Private Collection