Ralph Monroe Nelson (NC, 1929-1987), Published Pair of Beach Robins

Stacy, North Carolina, circa 1940s, carved and painted wood, published on page 240 of Southern Decoys of Virginia and the Carolinas by Henry Fleckenstein, Jr.

Length 9 in.

The existing rig of seven published beach robins were carved entirely of balsa, probably wood salvaged from Liberty ships sunken off the Carolina coast during the Second World War.

Original paint with heavy gunning wear, hit by shot, one missing a bill, second has working repair to neck with wood loss.