Important Greater Yellowlegs Pair
Massachusetts, c. 1890
13 1/4 in. long

This grand pair is an exceptional representation of the classic New England shorebird. Long coveted by collectors, two examples were collected by the Cincinnati Art Museum and pioneer collector Adele Earnest.

Attesting to the form of this dynamic pair, Earnest chose a closely related carving with no paint for the cover of her iconic book, "The Art of the Decoy."

The full bodies were constructed with three-piece lamination. Each sculpture was finished with lyrical paint patterns from a well-trained hand. These are the two best examples of this unknown maker's work to ever hit the market.
Original paint with gunning wear, including flaking.

Provenance: The Johnson Collection

Literature: Adele Earnest, "The Art of The Decoy: American Bird Carvings," New York, NY, 1965, cover, related example illustrated, p. 50, related examples illustrated.Robert Bishop, "American Folk Sculpture," New York, NY, 1985, p. 304, pl. 569, related examples illustrated.

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