Massachusetts, c. 1850
13 in. long
  Bearing the traits seen in the earliest  Massachusetts South Shore carvers, both decoys  reveal refined split-tail carving, graceful neck transitions, and the tack eyes that would later be  adopted by Joseph Lincoln (1859-1938).  These decoys were likely made before Lincoln was  even born and some attribute them to the same hand  as the early hollow running curlew from the Grant  Nelson Collection, illustrated in "Decoys: North  America’s One Hundred Greatest." Both display the  "NELSON" collection stamp on its  underside.
Both birds are in original paint. The runner has even gunning wear and partial loss  to bill tip. The upright bird has gunning repair  to the neck and a replaced  bill.
Provenance: Grant Nelson  Collection
Literature: Loy S. Harrell Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest,"  Iola, WI, 2000, p. 82, possible rigmate  illustrated. 
 Jackson Parker, "Unknown Curlew Causes Excitement at Massachusetts Americana Auction," Decoy Magazine, November/December 1997, pp. 3 and 34, possible rigmate illustrated.                                                                                                                            
                                                
Condition
                                                                                            
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