W.S. Morton - Golden Plover

Updated September 3, 2026

W. S. Morton Rig Nantucket, MA c.1850's 9.5" long The Morton brand is associated with the rig of William Saxton Morton (1809–1871), a wealthy attorney from Quincy, Massachusetts, and founder of the Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1851. Morton is not believed to have been the carver of these fine shorebirds. As was common during the period, affluent sportsmen commissioned decoys for their personal rigs, often selecting carvers that were skilled enough to make birds that were as pleasing to the eye of the hunter as they were effective in attracting the shorebirds being pursued. These decoys were frequently marked with an ownership brand, providing an important link to their original rigs. Many exceptional shorebirds from this period are associated with Nantucket without a known maker. The island became legendary among wealthy sportsmen for shorebird hunting, and both sport and market hunting grew into an important local industry as the island's traditional whaling economy declined to the point of vanishing in the 1860's. This sleek example is particularly appealing for its bold original paint, with vibrant gold, tan, and white spotting extending across the back. Deeply relief-carved wings sweep rearward to an elevated point, flowing into the sharply finished tail. The underside retains two stick holes, a feature seen on some earlier shorebirds and consistent with the use of separate legs. A crisp “W.S. Morton” brand remains on the bottom, with the “W” mostly interrupted by one of the stick holes.Condition: Very good and original. Some paint loss to tail tip with a shallow chip in wing tip and a couple shot scars in the body.Literature: John and Shirley Delph, "New England Decoys," Exton, PA, 1981, p. 86, rig mate illustrated twice.

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