Harkers Island, North Carolina, circa 1900, carved and painted wood, mounted to wooded log base.

Height 24.5 in.

The Guthrie and Styron families from Harker's Island were known to make some very folksy wading birds and very few are known to exist today. This wading bird has a body similar to the Guthrie decoy published on page 30 of Shorebird Decoys of North Carolina by Kroghie Andresen and Philip Harvey. The head is an inverted holly limb which is held to the body via a small wood peg. It has a rich surface patina and a wonderful overall folk art from.
Exhibited at Duke University Hospital 2023.

Original paint worn to bare wood in most places.