Obediah Verity

Long Island attracted great numbers of shorebirds and thus, it was home to many carvers of decoys meant to attract them. Some of these men produced lures that were only fair, while others, produced exceptional birds. Many would argue that names at the very top of the list would include Gelston, Bowman, Dilley, and Verity. Ironically, of these, only Thomas Gelston has been thoroughly documented. The other gentlemen are either enigmatic or, at best, only vaguely understood. Among the Verity's, the picture becomes particularly clouded when discussing the man that, today, most consider the master of the style attributed to the entire family, Obediah.

Uncertainty has surrounded the fine, distinctive decoys of this in...