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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.
D0796: Early George Boyd Yellowlegs Shorebird Decoy
Excellent "beetlehead" yellowlegs by George Boyd (1873-1941), a shoemaker from Seabrook, New Hampshire, circa early 1900s. This decoy retains its original upturned bill and is in meticulous original stippled paint with shoe button eyes and a nicely rounded body. There are several small rubs to the paint and the typical tight crack in the slender neck. Boyd inserted a dowel through the neck from the head into the body of his yellowlegs to stabilize and offset this tendancy. Boyd's shorebirds are widely recognized as being among the best ever crafted. SOLD
D0795: Jim Mense Redhead Hen, 1977
Exceptional redhead hen in mint condition by Dr. James B. "Jim" Mense, Lansing, Michigan, 1977. Born in Chicago in 1942, Mense began carving
shortly after taking a position with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in Lansing in the mid-1960s where The Midwest Decoy Contest (later changed to the North American Wildfowl Carving Championships) and his association with Dr. Miles D. Pirnie and two nationally recognized carvers, Jim Foote and Larry Hayden, served as his inspiration. Since, he has won over 100 awards, including 6 best of shows, in major competitions including the Ward World Championships. Dr. Mense now lives and carves in Meeker, Colorado. This particular decoy, measuring 13" in length, 6.25" in width and 6.5" in height, is expertly carved, detailed and painted. It is hollow with glass eyes, detailed bill carving, fluted tail and raised and crossed wingtips. Her head is turned about 15 degrees to the left. The carving is in original condition with no repairs or touch up and is signed and dated "James Mense 1977" on the bottom. Two labels on the base indicate that this decoy took third place (in species?) in the Professional Division of the Midwest Decoy Contest. It's hard to imagine a more lifelike carving! SOLD
M340: Bobwhite Quail by Jim White, Cairo, GA. Dated 1979
Excellent male bobwhite quail by noted carver Jim White (1930-present) of Cairo, GA. Artistic ability obviously runs in the family as Jim is the older brother of Delaware River carver Bob White. The quail, measuring 8.5" from tail tip to bill, is in highly detailed mint original feather paint. It has carved wing outlines with detailed bill carving and a raised top knot. The base is signed and dated 1979. It stands 6.5" tall, including the base. Jim's carving career spanned 35 years from 1965 to 1990. SOLD
D0768: Mint Rick Brown Sleeping Canada Goose Decoy
Beautiful full-size Canada goose decoy in a sleeping or preening pose by Fredrick C. "Rick" Brown, Brick Township, NJ. It is hand-carved in the traditional Delaware River style from air-dried Jersey white cedar with superb mint paint, detailed bill carving, raised primaries, fluted tail, hollow body, high quality glass eyes, lead pad weight and leather thong. The decoy is signed and dated 2015. It measures approximately 20.5" in length, 8" in width, 9" in height and and bears Rick's personal copper ID tag. Rick was the founder and owner of Barnegat Bay Decoys which he started on the old Wildfowler Decoy Company site in the 70s. Though the company closed it's doors more than two decades ago, Rick continues to hand carve the competition quality decoys that have earned him hundreds of ribbons for more than a quarter of a century. His decoys are highly collectible and very much sought after. SOLD
M331: Leo McIntosh Solitary Sandpiper, Signed, 1986
Decorative solitary sandpiper decoy carving by Leo H. McIntosh, Jr. (1953 - 2007), Stony Creek Decoys, Woodville, New York, dated 1986. Recognized as one of the best contemporary decoy carvers before his untimely death, Leo apprenticed with Ken Harris for five years before founding Stony Creek Decoys. This handsome solid-bodied shorebird measures about over 6" from bill to tail. Other than touch up to an imperceptible professional bill repair by Russ Allen, it is in near-mint and highly detailed feather paint with glass eyes. The bird has incised and slightly raised primaries with deeply carved shoulders and wing edges. The included base reads, "Solitary Sandpiper, Stony Creek Decoys by Leo H. McIntosh, Jr., '86". Stand included. SOLD
M339: Vintage Pair of Pintail Drake Decoy Bookends
Fine pair of glass-eyed pintail drake decoy bookends by an unknown carver, circa 3rd quarter, 20th century. They are somewhat high-headed and have a West Coast look to them. The carvings are in unique, excellent and very intricate "tiger stripe" feather paint with a small amount of flaking on each bill and several small rubs on the heads. The bills are very detailed with carved nails, mandibles and nostrils. There are several small and tight age cracks in the necks of each and another in the breast of one. The bookends are about 6-1/2" wide and stand 8-1/2" high. SOLD
C003: Miller Collection: From Decoys to Decoratives
Decorative decoys and bird carvings from the collection of Ellen and Doug Miller in collaboration with Arts Memphis and Ducks Unlimited. Mint condition softcover publication issued as part of Conservation Through Art 2014, published by Guyette & Deeter. 90-pages with full color photos of over 300 photographs along with brief carver biographies of decorative bird carvings collected by the Millers over a 40-year period. Artists whose work is represented include John Scheeler, William Schultz, Tan Brunet, Harold Haertel, Jim Schmiedlin and Bruce Burk, among others. US shipping included. SOLD
D0792: English Wood Pigeon Decoy, Robert Lange, Yorkshire, UK, Circa 1900
Very fine English wood pigeon attributed to Robert Lange, Yorkshire, UK, circa 1900. There is a possibility, however, that the decoys attributed to Lange were actually made by an unnamed Scottish carver. Regardless, they were limited in production and some of the finest early decoys the UK has to offer. Stylistically, they are similar to some of the better North American shorebird decoys of the same period, with smoothly carved bodies and a deft brushstroke applied in what has been called a "Spenserian style". This glass-eyed example is in bright breeding plumage with neatly scalloped neck patches and fluid but precisely applied wing markings. The decoy measures 13" in length. See my other website, www.woodpigeondecoys.com, dedicated to the identification and documentation of these decoys and their carvers for additional information. SOLD
