{"product_id":"1930s-virginia-folk-art-carved-applewood-shorebird-decoy-susan-mathews-co","title":"1930s Virginia Folk Art Carved Applewood Shorebird Decoy – Susan, Mathews Co.","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType: Shorebird Decoy \/ Folk Art Sculpture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBird Species:\u003c\/strong\u003e Styled Greater Yellowlegs \/ Godwit \/ Tern\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEra\/Age:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1930s (Art Deco \/ Depression Era)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Susan, Mathews County, Virginia (Chesapeake Bay Region)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Solid Native Virginia Applewood \/ Fruitwood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-Carved, Tight Ring-Grain, Split-Tail Detail, Blind Head, Treenail Base\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14.25\" Long x 7.25\" High\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRare 1930s Americana Folk Art Hand-Carved Shorebird Decoy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003eProvenance: Sourced directly from a historic family farm homestead in Susan, Virginia (Mathews County, Chesapeake Bay Region).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA magnificent, untouched example of early 20th-century coastal Virginia vernacular folk art. This near life-sized decorative shorebird sculpture (measuring \u003cstrong\u003e14.25 inches long by 7.25 inches high\u003c\/strong\u003e) beautifully bridges the gap between traditional Chesapeake Bay decoy carving and the clean, geometric minimalism of the 1930s Art Deco movement.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign \u0026amp; Craftsmanship Highlights:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSolid Native Applewood \/ Fruitwood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Masterfully hand-sculpted from an old-growth fruitwood timber harvested directly from a Mathews County farmstead. The tight, ultra-fine concentric growth rings run flawlessly across the flank of the bird. Having completely dried out over nearly a century of indoor display, the piece is remarkably stable and holds an incredible hand-rubbed amber-honey patina.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe \"Slick\/Smoothie\" Aesthetic:\u003c\/strong\u003e Features a striking, modern \"blind head\" design (eyeless) with deep, elegant sweeping incised wing grooves that let the tight, linear wood grain delineate the bird's form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExceptional Split-Tail Detail:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unlike common tourist souvenirs, the tail terminates in a delicately carved, hollowed-out split fork—a highly advanced and difficult carving detail rarely seen on unsigned farm-crafted pieces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTreenail Construction Base:\u003c\/strong\u003e The underside of the raw, rough-sawn block base features historic vertical mill marks and reveals a hand-whittled wooden peg\/shim securing the oxidized metal support rod. No modern nuts, washers, or screws are present, confirming traditional farm-workshop craftsmanship.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn beautiful, unaltered antique condition. The wood retains its original finish and deep oxidation, showing minor historic surface scuffs and wonderful, naturally darkened recesses appropriate for its 90+ year age. It has never been chemically stripped, re-lacquered, or artificially enhanced. Please see photos. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eAn exceptional piece for collectors of premium American folk art, decoy history, or coastal Tidewater decor.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"103612","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49219175121115,"sku":"1654209548871","price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0258\/9812\/3369\/files\/Untitleddesign-2026-09-03T140923.928.jpg?v=1788458991","url":"https:\/\/goodmansantiques.com\/products\/1930s-virginia-folk-art-carved-applewood-shorebird-decoy-susan-mathews-co","provider":"Goodman's Antiques \u0026 Estate Jewelry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}