CROWDEDHOUSE ANTIQUES newsletter vol 9 january 2014 Collecting duck decoys Welcome to the eighth edition of the Crowdedhouse antiques newsletter. This edition is devoted to the Collecting of Duck Decoys. I hope this issue will give you a greater appreciation of the charm and timeless beauty of these beautiful pieces. This edition has many photos with a range of auction values for exceptional pieces that always depend heavily on rarity and condition, condition and condition. The list of carvers is endless and some carvings have values exceeding a million dollars with $5,000 to $10,000 being fairly common. Everyday working decoys can be purchased for $50.00 to a few hundred dollars but I have confined this newsletter to those exceptional decoys that are out of reach for most of us but it will provide some appreciation of these wonderful works of floating sculpture. I invite your questions and comments and will attempt to answer all enquirers in a timely manner. I hope you find the following article informative and enjoyable reading. You may address your comments and questions to crowdedhouse_antiques@hotmail.com A Brief History of Duck Decoys The art of making a clever hunting decoy is a tradition that has been passed down from hunter to hunter for centuries. Duck skins from earlier kills were stretched over the decoys, rendering them lifelike. In earlier times the duck s feathers were woven onto the decoy and tied on with hemp strings. The heads and necks were painted to match the duck species. The ancient art of using tule reed, a plant related to the bullrush is still being made and used today by Native Americans especially at the Stillwater Marsh in western Nevada.
Transplanted Europeans improved on the Indians reed decoys by carving them out of wood which was more durable and they used coloured pigments to create a realistic look. The carved decoys can be hollow or solid body depending on the carver. In the last decade decoy collecting has exploded with exhibitions in several art museums and including the Smithsonian Institute. When Betty Ford was the first lady, she frequently used decoys as centerpieces at state dinners in the White House. A man by the name of Joel Barber is the first known collector, who started collecting decoys in 1918. Today the carved wooden decoy is viewed as important North American Folk art. Barber wrote the first book Wild Fowl Decoys that promoted them as collectible objects of art. In 1965 folk art dealer Adele Earnest wrote The Art of the Decoy and followed by William F. Mackey s American Bird Decoys. By the 1970 s decoys were becoming big business. In September 2007 a Canadian goose and a preening pintail drake by A. Elmer Crowell of East Harwick, Massachusetts were sold for 1.13 Million dollars each. One of the most famous contemporary carvers is Delbert Cigar Daisey from Chincoteague VA. His pintail decoy was featured in the June 1980 edition of the National Geographic on page 826. The decoy was valued at $100,000 $150,000 at that time. Some very valuable were produced by factories the most famous of which was the Mason factory (1896-1924) in Detroit Michigan. Other factories included the Petersen factory in Detroit which was sold to Jasper Dodge in 1883, J. N. Dodge (1829-1909), J.W. Reynolds of Chicago, Swisher & Soule of Decatur Illinois, Hays of Jefferson City, Missouri, H.A. Stevens of Westport NY, Evans Factory (1872-1948) of Ladysmith Wisconsin, Wildflower Decoys of Old Saybrook Connecticut, Herter s Inc. of Waseca Minnesota, L.L. Bean of Freeport Maine, Peterborough Canoe Company of Peterborough Ontario, and Mintz decoys of Boise Idaho. What to look for when collecting decoys First of all anyone interested in collecting decoys should collect ones that you enjoy. The value of a decoy depends on a variety of factors, including the condition of the wood and of the paint itself, rarity, authenticity, carver reputation, duck species, poses like swimming or preening, and local collector interest. Authenticity is crucial. Is the head original, is it structurally sound and is there any indication of repair or restoration. The optimum purchase is one where the bird was carved and made for hunting but was never actually used. As always beware of reproductions. My apologies for some of the photos being not perfect but I had to blow them up from small photos.
Duck decoy 400 BC AD 100 Lovelock Cave, Humboldt County, Nevada, Tule rush, feathers, cordage, paint 29 x 13 x 16.5 cm Collected by Mark R. Harrington.
Duck decoy 400 BC AD 100 Lovelock Cave, Humboldt County, Nevada, Tule rush, cattail, cordage, paint 33 x 12 x 17 cm Collected by Mark R. Harrington.
Slot Neck Goose from Massachusetts, maker unknown, sold January 2007 for $553,600.
William Basnight of Manteo North Carolina was a caretaker in Durant s Island Club in Dare County. He produced magnificent swan decoys some hollow and some with solid body. All his swans are highly prized by collectors and museums. Swan by William Basnight sold November 2013.
A. Elmer Crowell 1862-1952 was a master decoy carver from East Harwick, Massachusetts. Crowell specialized in shorebirds, waterfowl and miniatures. Crowell s decoys are consistently regarded as the finest and most desirable ever made. Black Bellied Plover by Elmer Crowell sold August 2013.
Lem and Steve Ward were born in the 1890 s and were barbers who carved decoys in their spare time. They gained national fame after National Geographic wrote an article about them in 1964. Lem and Steve gave unique expressions and poses to their birds. There is a Ward Museum of Wildfowl At in Salisbury Maryland that honours the carvings of the Ward Brothers. Hooded Merganser by Ward Brothers sold November 2013.
Swimming Goldeneye by the Ward Brothers sold November 2006.
Feeding Dust Jacket Black Bellied Plover by Elmer Crowell sold November 2006.
Nathan Cobb of Cobb Island Virginia was a member of the famous Cobb family that settled the island as a result of a shipwreck in 1833. His decoys are generally possessed life like painting but lacked sophisticated detailing. Curlew by Nathan Cobb sold November 2006.
Lothrop Holmes 1824-1899 was an important wildfowl decoy carver. Currently his Red Breasted Merganser pictured below ranks number one on the top 50 decoys ever sold at Auction A private of Elmer Crowell holds the highest price ever at 1.13 million. Red breasted Merganser hen by Lothrop Holmes January 2007 $856,000.
Henry Ruggles 1830 1897 was one of the earliest carvers from the Illinois River Valley. Henry created very fine and distinctive birds. A scarce number of his decoys have been found, but his style influenced a generation of carvers. Canvas Back drake by Henry Ruggles sold April 2013. John Blair Sr. 1842 1928 lived on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. His son also carved beautiful decoys. There are some attribution issues and many unknown makers of the Blair school but the style is quite evident. Blair Sr is known to have made decoys with three slabs, as well as two and joined them with dowels. His decoys differ from the Delaware River decoy in that his are long and lean. Swimming Mallard by John Blair Sr sold April 2013.
Harry V. Shourds was born in New Jersey on July 24, 1930. He was a third generation decoy carver from Barnegat Bay area in New Jersey and the grandson of legendary duck decoy carver Harry Vinuckson Shourds 1861-1920. Shourds are crafted to look and float like real ducks making them effective for use in duck hunting. Brant Goose by Harry V. Shourds 1890 1943 sold April 2013.
Mason Decoy Factory 1896 1924 was based in Detroit Michigan. The Mason factory was started by William J. Mason in 1896 and produced three types of decoys, Standard grade, Challenge grade and Premier grade. Old Squaw by Mason Decoy Factory sold April 2013. Blue Wing Teal drake by Harvey Stevens sold April 2013.
Black Duck by Mason Decoy Factory sold November 2012. Ira Hudson 1876-1949 was born in Maryland but grew up in Delaware. He later moved to Chincoteague Virginia and started carving in 1897. It is estimated that Hudson carved 60,000 decoys in his lifetime. Black Duck by Ira Hudson sold November 2011.
Flying Tern by Elmer Crowell sold August 2013.
John Williams 1857-1937 Cedar Island, North Carolina. John Williams spent most of his time as a professional guide and market hunter. He is well known for his chubby Ruddy ducks and huge swans as pictured below. Swan by John Williams sold November 2011. Premier Grade Blue wing Teal by Mason Decoy Factory sold November 2011.
Benjamin Dye 1827-1896 was a fisherman and hunter from Perryville Maryland. He was one of the earliest decoy carvers and his hand made decoys were made according to the classic Chesapeake Bay style. Lesser Scaup by Ben Dye sold November 2011. Pintail Drake from Kanakee Illinois sold April 2009.
Charles Jester 1876-1952 was a carver from Chincoteague Virginia. His decoys were conceived as working decoys and are of outstanding quality. The area was known for boat building so consequently the construction of his decoys were done mostly with marine adhesives and durable marine paint. Pair of Buffleheads by Charles Jester sold April 2009. Alvira Wright (1869-1951) was born in Camden North Carolina. His carvings have a bold simplistic look. His total lifetime output of ruddies, canvasbacks and a few redheads and blackheads number fewer than twelve dozen. He is considered one of the finest carvers ever to come from North Carolina. Ruddy Duck by Alvira Wright sold April 2009.
Swan from St Clair flats sold April 2009. Merganser by Mason Decoy factory sold April 2009.
Phinneas Reeves was a Long Point Company guide in the late 1800 s and is one of the finest carvers ever produced by Canada. He is well known for his hollow goose decoys like the one pictured below. Canada Goose by Phinneas Reeves sold April 2010. Curlew by Elmer Crowell sold August 2013.
James Holly 1855-1935 was born and raised in Havre de Grace, Harford County Maryland. Jim, a master boat builder and craftsman by trade he is best known today for his classy sleek black duck decoys. His decoys are beautifully painted and prized by collectors. Pintail hen by James Holly sold April 2013. Tom Chambers 1860 1948 was from Wallaceburg Ontario. He led a quiet solitary life and spent his early years as a market hunter in the Toronto Harbour. His early decoys have rounded heads and extensive bill carving. His decoys had to forego the more elegant look to accommodate the needs of the hunter. Colours are muted with feather combing on the backs and wings. The dull red and grey he blended and scratch painted created a very life like decoy. Redhead drake by Tom Chambers sold February 2013.
The Stevens brothers were descendants of Captain William Stevens who was born in England and migrated to America to take part in the Boston Tea Party. Harvey and George Stevens were two brothers from Weedsport New York who made quality decoys from the late 1860 s until about 1905. Today s collectors appreciate the talents of both men albeit Harvey is the better known. Bufflehead by Stevens Brothers sold November 2012. Mark English was from Somers Point New Jersey. His decoys have a distinct appearance with their short choppy bodies with a sharp sudden drop under the tail. Old Squaw by Mark English sold November 2012.
Augustus Aaron Wilson 1864-1950 was born in Mount Desert Island, Maine. His career spanned more than fifty years during which time Gus crested a vast array of diverse forms. Unlike other famous carvers the sculptural form of his decoys is far more important than the paint. Merganser by Gus Wilson sold July 2012. Eider drake from Maine sold July 2012.
Samuel Hutchings 1894 1995 was from Jones falls Ontario. Sam was a farmer and construction contractor. At an early age he was given the responsibility of carving the family decoys for the family hunting trips. Hutchings relief carved the decoy wings and then textured the surface by checking it with a file. Hooded Merganser by Sam Hutchings sold July 2012. I hope this newsletter will open up your senses to the beauty of these works of art. That concludes this edition of my newsletter. If you have any questions or would like your item appraised contact me at crowdedhouse_antiques@hotmail.com