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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.
SAY01: Mason Broadbill Drake Decoy
Nice example of a tack-eye Standard Grade broadbill drake decoy by the Mason Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1910. The decoy is in excellent original paint with nice sponging on the back. Some neck filler has been replaced with touch up to that area. There is also a thin age split in the back. The decoy measures almost 14" in length, 6.5" in height and 5.25" in width and has a slightly wider bill than a blubill.
Price: $495.00
SAY08: Gus Wilson Black Duck Decoy
Black duck decoy with relief wing carving by Gus Wilson of South Portland, Maine, circa early 2nd quarter, 20th century. Wilson was one of Maine's finest carvers, widely recognized and appreciated for his sleek, simple and folky style. This decoy's head, which is turned slightly to the right and inlet into the body, has carved eyes and detailed carving on the underside of the bill. There is a tight crack in the neck as well as several thin age splits in the body and a defect in the wood on the underside. The paint is mostly original with slight traces of overpaint, particularly on the bottom and in the area of the speculums, worn almost back to the original. The decoy measures 17" in length, 7" in height and 6.5" in width. SOLD
D0698: Nova Scotia Loon Decoy
Fine solid-bodied common loon decoy with nice alert head, found in the South Shore region of Nova Scotia, circa 2nd quarter of the 20th century. The "blind" decoy has no eyes and simply but effectively patterned original paint showing an excellent patina. The flat-bottomed carving is slightly beveled around its entire perimeter. A crack in the back, filled in the making, has reopened with some paint flaking. The bird retains its original keel, including a utilitarian weight attached to the keel by copper wire. Serifed initials, "_A" (possibly "HA") are carved in the bottom and partially concealed by the keel. Because of that placement, the initials are most probably those of the maker. Loon decoys were usually deployed as single birds, making them a rare prize for the collector. The sleek decoy measures 17" in length, 6" in width and 7' in height, excluding the keel. SOLD
D0647: Wood Duck Drake Decoy
Rare glass-eyed, snuggle-head wood duck drake decoy by an unknown carver, circa 1st quarter, 20th century. The bird is in original paint, showing light wear. The colors have darkened with age, but the green on the head and wings as well as the burgundy of the breast are still visible, as are the typical inverted white checks on the breast. The body is laminated with the top lamination forming the wings and tail. True early working wood duck decoys are very rare. This decoy is from the northeast US, quite possibly the Delaware River area. It measures 13" in length, 5" in width and 5" in height.
Price: $395.00
D0687: Elmer Crowell Goldeneye Drake Decoy
Fine goldeneye drake decoy that has never been rigged, by Anthony Elmer Crowell of East Harwich, Massachusetts, circa first quarter, 20th century. Its head is turned slightly to the left and is nicely rasped at the back. The decoy bears Crowell's crisp oval brand on the underside and is in original paint with good patina and minor wear. There are several spots of minor touch up on its lower right side and a slight roughness to the edges of the bill. The bird measures 14" in length, 7" in width and 6.5" in height. Crowell is acknowledged as one of the finest decoy carvers ever. An example of his work belongs in every collection!
Price: $10750.00
D0560/D0561: Pair of Quebec Goldeneye Decoys
Exceptional pair of solid-bodied goldeneye decoys from Quebec, probably the Valleyfield area, circa 2nd quarter, 20th century. Both have tack eyes, slightly turned heads and detailed wing and tail feather carving. In original paint with nice patinas and light wear, both decoys are structurally strong except for two cracks in the neck of the drake. Slightly oversized, each bird measures 16" in length, 6.5" in width and 7.5" in height.
Price: $3600.00
D0653: Massachusetts Red-breasted Merganser Drake Decoy
Finely crafted red-breasted merganser drake decoy, circa early 3rd quarter of the 20th century. Based on the plumage pattern and overall style of the decoy, reminiscent of decoys from Massachusetts in general and Martha's Vineyard in particular, the carver is believed to have been Dr. Lewis Webb Hill (1889 - 1968), a well known sportsman from Boston and Martha's Vineyard. The decoy is very hollow with incised wing tips and an inlet crest. The highly detailed original paint is expertly applied but displays moderate flaking and wear. Nonetheless, this is an outstanding work by a master carver. It is slightly over-sized, measuring 18.5" in length, 6" in width and 7" in height. Dr. Hill's work is covered in Joe Ellis's fine book, Birds in Wood and Paint. SOLD
D0689: George Huey Red-breasted Merganser Drake Decoy
Slightly oversized (20" L x 6.25" W x 7.5" H) red-breasted merganser drake decoy by George Huey of Friendship, Maine, circa 1915 - 1920. The decoy has an inlet head with carved eyes as well as bill carving. The underside is unusual for Huey, being hollow with a bottom board, probably following the flow of a partially hollowed log he was using. The carving is in mostly original paint with a small amount of in-use overpaint worn almost back to the original surface with moderate flaking and wear and age splits in the back and tail and one side of the bottom board. There is a small chip in the tail and a chip missing at the base of the neck as well as an old in-use repair to a crack in the neck. Huey is recognized as having carved some of New England's finest and most collectible merganser decoys.
Price: $2950.00
