Decoy-Dux | email info@decoy-dux.com | phone: 865.458.6186 | site terms & conditions - contact me - sitemap
Welcome to Decoy-Dux, specializing in quality representative antique, vintage and contemporary duck, goose and shorebird decoys and carvings, as well as miniatures, books, paintings and other related collectibles.
D0803: Harry V. Shourds Hissing Canada Goose Decoy
Rare hollow swimming or "hissing-head" Canada goose decoy by one of America's top carvers, Harry Vinuckson Shourds (1861-1920), Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa 1st quarter, 20th century. Decoys by Shourds in this form are recognized as being among his finest work. Formerly in the William Humbracht collection, the glass-eyed decoy is in a pleasing early working repaint with some flaking under the tail. Shourds' typical lead weight is inset into the bottom of the decoy. There is a repaired and stable crack through the neck and some slight seam separation, most noticeably on the right side. The decoy measures almost 27" from bill to tail, 8" in width and is 8.5" high. SOLD
D0799: Vintage Sleeping Connecticut Black Duck Decoy, 3 Q, 20 C
Found in Northport, NY, this very fine solid-bodied, glass-eyed sleeping black duck by an unknown maker was carved in the Stratford, Connecticut, style and is quite likely from that area, circa 3rd quarter, 20th century. Carved from what appears to be cherry wood, it has never been rigged and was most likely carved as a "mantle bird". It measures 15" in length from breast to tail, 6.5" in width and 6" in height. The wing edges are incised, the bill is well detailed and the realistically turned neck and head showcase the carver's understanding and mastery of his craft. The detailed feather paint is original other than some professional touch up to some flaking. SOLD
M342: Carved Robin Pair with Hatchlings, Circa Mid-20th C.
Very well done pair of adult robins with two chicks, mounted on an appealing and richly-colored stump remnant. From northern Minnesota circa mid-20th century, the identity of the carver is unknown. All four birds are carved life size with incised primaries, fluted tails and carved and painted eyes. The paint is completely original and accurately hued. The piece, measuring about 24" in width, 12.5" in height and 11" in depth, is in excellent structural condition except for almost imperceptible tight crack in the bill of the uppermost adult and missing wire toes on one foot of the lower adult. SOLD
D0801: Early Wood Pigeon Decoy, Yorkshire, UK. Circa Late 1800s
One of the finest wood pigeon decoys I have seen to date, second only to the best of those by Trulock and Harriss. A solid-bodied decoy with applied wings, raised wing tips and a full, protruding breast, it shares many characteristics with the carvings attributed to Robert Lange and Robert Sainz (See http://www.woodpigeondecoys.com/), both from Yorkshire, characteristics that seem to be common to that area. However, there are just enough differences to make me believe that it was made in the late 1800s to early 1900s by a third carver from that area. The incisions on the wings and form of the flared and fluted tail as opposed to the tapered tails most often seen in decoys from this area are unique while the shapes of the head, bill and full body are not. The decoy, measuring 13" in length, is in near mint original condition with an incredibly deep patina. Stand included. SOLD
SOLD
D0800: Preening Chesapeake Bay Widgeon Drake
Solid-bodied preening widgeon drake in fall (eclipse) plumage by an unknown Chesapeake Bay carver, circa early 2nd quarter, 20th century. In excellent original condition with a rich patina, the decoy has been rigged but has seen little if any use. Measuring 12" from tail to breast, 5 1/2" in width and 7" in height, it has painted eyes and a very nice stylized paint pattern. There are several small paint rubs on the sides, breast and tail tip. SOLD
M336: Leo McIntosh Model 1880 Yellowlegs Decoy
Fine carving of a yellowlegs featuring a hinged body with a hollowed storage compartment for the removable head by Leo H. McIntosh, Jr. (1953 - 2007), Stony Creek Decoys, Woodville, New York, dated 1986. Inspired by a similar carving from Adele Earnest's collection (Plate 94, The Art of the Decoy), Leo called this his 1880 model. Recognized as one of America's best contemporary carvers before his untimely death, Leo apprenticed with Ken Harris for five years before founding Stony Creek Decoys. According to his wife, Leo made only 2 or 3 of this model, and they are quite valuable. Signed "1880 yellowlegs, Stony Creek Decoys by Leo H. McIntosh, Woodville, NY, '86". There has been an excellent a professional bill repair by Russ Allen (see last photo). SOLD
M163: Illinois River Duck Hunt Oil-On-Board, 1930s
Large oil-on-board by an unknown artist of mallards, redheads and a pintail flying on the Illinois River, circa 1930s. The painting came from a tavern in Peru, Illinois. It has several small nail holes and scrapes, but is richly toned and expertly detailed. The painting has overall dimensions of 96" x 30". SOLD
D0796: Francis Rolph Wood Pigeon Decoy, Early 1900s
Excellent wood pigeon decoy attributed to Francis Rolph of Lakenheath, Suffolk, United Kingdom, circa 1900-1910. The decoy is in original paint with light wear and a small chip off one side of the tail. It is unusual in that the head and body are carved in separate pieces, similar to North American decoys, but a characteristic I've seen in no other English wood pigeons. It has carved shoulders and wings, the original metal bill, glass eyes and a pleasing patina. Painted in the specie's fall plumage, the full-bodied bird measures about 14.5" in length, 4" in width and 3.5" in depth at the breast. It is fitted with eye screws in the back and belly to allow the decoy to be suspended from a tree branch of what the Brits called a "sitty tree" as part of a set they called "lofters". A wind vane, camouflaged with a leaf pattern and probably provided by Rolph to provide motion to the birds, is attached to the bottom of the decoy, adding significantly to the folk art appeal of this early carving. Francis was the father of James Rolph who continued carving decoys into the 1940s using the same basic pattern but with a one-piece body and head. One of Francis's decoys, unidentified as to maker, can be found in Joel Barber's book written in 1935 (Plate 54). English wood pigeons have garnered the well-deserved attention of American collectors. Similar in time frame to North American waterfowl and shorebird decoys, they have been used in the United Kingdom since the latter part of the 1800s with examples ranging from the deeply carved examples sold by Trulock and Harriss and R. Ward Co. to the more stylized examples of the Rolphs, Jaggard, Boddy and Robert Lange. See my other website, www.woodpigeondecoys.com, dedicated to the identification and documentation of these decoys and their carvers for additional information. SOLD
