"Verity" Style Peep (#041)

Obediah Verity, of Seaford, Long Island, was one of the more prolific shorebird carvers in the late 1800’s.  The south shore of Long Island was a haven for migrating shorebirds, and unfortunately, they were heavily hunted.  Verity did not make many species of shorebirds; his output consisted mostly of Black Breasted Plovers and Sanderlings (Sandpipers), also commonly called “Peeps.”  Verity’s Plovers have fetched over $150,000 at auction, and the smaller, less elaborately carved “Peeps” routinely sell for $30,000 or more, depending on condition.  Most of these decoys saw hard usage and it is not unusual to find one with little or no paint left.

The “Peep” shown here is a very close reproduction of a classic Verity “Peep,”  a fat-bodied, quirky little bird with carved wing tips and eyes and the “painted with a chewed stick” paint pattern that is fun to work with.  The bird measures about 7” from bill to tail, and while aged just a bit, it has the look of strong original paint.  My signature initials are carved under the tail and a wood stand is included.

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