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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.
D1004: Wood Pigeon Decoy, Daniel & Will Foster, Cockermouth, UK
Innovative wood pigeon decoy by Daniel and Will Foster, circa 1930s, Cockermouth, UK. Daniel was the gamekeeper at Cockermouth Castle in the Lake District of the UK. The decoy is a multi-media shell covered with a heavy ribbed cloth fabric and hand painted. It’s in original paint with light soiling. The folding bill is an ingenious component made of cast metal that snaps into place when the decoy is in use but releases for storage. Made with great attention to detail and accurately colored, the decoy measures 14” in length, 5” in width and is about 4” deep. Meal grommets serve as eyes. Although difficult to see in the photos, it is cold stamped “DF” twice on the inside of the shell and numbered “4” in paint. His birds were undoubtably the most technologically advanced of their era! Besides the shell decoys, there are a few full-bodied feeding decoys and at least one flyer known by him. Although his total output is unknown, it is certainly in the low 2-figure range.
Price: $475.00
D1003: Excellent Trulock & Harriss Wood Pigeon Decoy, London, UK, Circa 1880s
Classic wood pigeon decoy from the famous gunsmith firm of Trulock & Harriss, Suffolk, England, circa 1880s. Their decoys are considered to be the premier examples of English wood pigeon decoys known. In an unusual pale grey plumage (I’ve seen this finish in a handful of their decoys, including Lot 490, Guyette & Deeter April 2015 aucton. These decoys but they are far from common, if not rare), it is in strong original paint other than fr some touchup around the eyes which are accurate and well executed replacements. This example is finely crafted with detailed shoulder, wing and tail carving, glass eyes and molded lead bill. The decoy exhibits overall feather carving with the breast and throat feathers carved in a checkered pattern, carved edging on the wing coverts, carved and raised primaries and a fluted tail. It is posed in an alertpostur. The underside of the tail is exposed bare wood. A woven burlap-like textile covering seen on the underside of the tails of some of their decoys that originally stabilized and protected the tail from breakage is missing. The decoy shows minor wear with light wear to the edges of the wings and chipping and roughness at the wingtips. One corner of the tail has chipped off while the other has a tight crack in it. The decoy is structurally sound with the lower portion of the belly and top of the head being laminated to the body of the bird. Measuring 14 inches in length, it has three stick holes in the belly, the outer two of which were intended for short doweled legs for setting the decoy out on the ground which have been filled in. Although who carved these decoys for Trulock and Harriss is not known, a strong argument can be made that the birds were made by the same craftsmen tasked with making the gunstocks for the gunsmith's primary product, perhaps on a seasonal basis or as a filler during slack periods. Stand included.
Price: $2295.00
D1002: Classic Trulock & Harriss Wood Pigeon Decoy, Circa 1880s
Classic wood pigeon decoy from the famous gunsmith firm of Trulock & Harriss, Suffolk, England, circa 1880s. Their decoys are considered to be the premier examples of English wood pigeon decoys known. In breeding plumage, it is cold-stamped “A. Lipscomb” twice. This stamp begs the question, was Lipscomb the maker or owner? A label on bottom reads, “Collection by D. Marsh, _____ by Trulock & Harris (sic), 1983, original paint”. There is also a newsprint transfer visable in the last photo on the decoy’s belly from a paper it was once wrapped in. This example is finely crafted with detailed shoulder, wing and tail carving, glass eyes and molded lead bill. The softly-blended paint with an excellent patina is strong and original. The decoy exhibits overall feather carving with the breast and throat feathers carved in a checkered pattern, carved edging on the wing coverts, carved and raised primaries and a fluted tail. The head is uplifted slightly. The underside of the tail is exposed bare wood. A woven burlap-like textile covering seen on the underside of the tails of some Trulock & Harriss decoys that originally stabilized and protected the tail from breakage is missing. The decoy shows light to moderate in-use wear with light chipping to the edges of the wings and chipping and roughness at the wingtips. The decoy is structurally sound with the lower portion of the belly and top of the head being laminated to the body of the bird. Measuring 16 inches in length, it has two original dowels set in the bottom to serve as legs for setting the deoy on the ground. Although who carved these decoys for Trulock and Harriss is not known, a strong argument can be made that the birds were made by the same craftsmen tasked with making the gunstocks for the gunsmith's primary product, perhaps on a seasonal basis or as a filler during slack periods. See Guyette & Deeter auction catalogs from February 2015 and April 2015 for similar examples.
Price: $2595.00
D0991: Rare And Exceptional 19th Century English Wood Pigeon
One of the better examples that I’ve catalogued, this exceptional English wood pigeon decoy was made by an unknown carver, circa 4th quarter, 19th century. As the only decoy I’ve seen by this maker, it is my opinion that it was probably made by a very talented hunter-craftsman for his own use rather than as part of a commercial operation. Lightly hit by shot, the 14†long fat-bodied decoy has painted eyes with catch-lights and an integrally carved wooden bill. The appealing sharp cuts of the spoke shave used to shape the decoy are clearly visible. The original muted paint has a lustrous satin patina. There is a small area on the right side of the decoy where a defect in the wood was filled in the making. In addition to being drilled to set on a stake on the ground, it has a staple in the back to allow it to be hung from a tree branch.
Price: $1650.00
D0989: Early Wood Pigeon Decoy, Yorkshire, UK, Circa 4Q, 19C
Among the earliest of the decoys from the Yorkshire area in specific and the UK in general, this bird was made circa 1880 - 1890 by a carver that I identified as "Mr. Wright" in an article I wrote on the Yorkshire school of wood pigeon decoys for Hunting & Fishing Collectibles Magazine (Nov-Dec 2019 issue). That identification was based on the name, "Wright", inscribed in the wet paint under the tail of a particular example. However, I've since seen the same name, again inscribed in wet paint, on another pigeon from Yorkshire that was almost certainly carved by a different hand. I now believe that Mr. Wright was the painter and that it is quite possible that a small group of craftsmen either worked in concert or traded ideas and designs resulting in a body of work employing a number of very similar characteristics. Yorkshire decoys of this vintage include some of the finest ever produced in the United Kingdom. This solid-bodied example retains its original glass eyes and measures 12-1/2" in length. It is smooth bodied with a pronounced breast. Showing light to moderate wear with light shot scarring, the well patinated paint is original other than for touch up to an accurately replaced bill. For a purpose I can only guess at, two nails were driven down through the back and into the body, perhaps to prevent age splitting of the body. If so, it worked! Stand included.
Price: $895.00
D0982: Early Scottish Wood Pigeon Decoy
Early wood pigeon decoy by an unknown maker, believed to be from Scotland, circa 1Q, 20C. The decoy has an exaggerated forehead with original bill, painted tack eyes with raised shoulders, wing outlines and wingtips. The head has been broken off and skillfuly reattached with touchup to the repair. The paint is otherwise original. The decoy measures 13†in length. Stand included.
Price: $495.00
D0984: George G. Bussey Wood Pigeon Decoy, Circa 1900
Early glass-eyed wood pigeon decoy with splined wooden bill set through the head, circa late 4th quarter, 19th century to early 1st quarter, 20th century. This decoy is in the style made for the George G. Bussey Company, London, UK, but it is noticably larger than previously known examples of later vintage, measuring 17” in length from bill to tail and 5” in width across the shoulders. It appears that the Bussey Company contracted with a small number of carvers over the years while maintaining a core group of design characteristics accented by the personal nuances of the individual makers. The splined wooden bill, small glass taxidermy eyes, apparent age of this decoy and laminated body construction with heavy primary feather carving similar to the Trulock and Harriss decoys of the same period lead me to believe that this is the earliest of the Bussey decoys. It is in original paint with working touchup and overall moderate wear. The body is made of three vertically laminated pieces. It has carved shoulders and wing outlines with carved primaries and raised wingtips. There is a brass shotgun shell head embedded in the belly of the decoy. Although the purpose of this is unknown, I have seen it in one other example from this company as well as in the rigmate to this bird. The bill is original. There is a tight crack in the tail. Stand included
Price: $750.00
D0983: Early George G. Bussey Wood Pigeon Decoy
Early glass-eyed wood pigeon decoy with splined wooden bill set through the head, circa late 4th quarter, 19th century to early 1st quarter, 20th century. This decoy is in the style made for the George G. Bussey Company, London, UK, but it is noticably larger than previously known examples of later vintage, measuring 17” in length from bill to tail and 5” in width across the shoulders. It appears that the Bussey Company contracted with a small number of carvers over the years while maintaining a core group of design characteristics accented by the personal nuances of the individual makers. The splined wooden bill, small glass taxidermy eyes, apparent age of this decoy and laminated body construction with heavy primary feather carving similar to the Trulock and Harriss decoys of the same period lead me to believe that this is the earliest of the Bussey decoys. It is in original paint with working touchup and overall moderate wear. The body is made of three vertically laminated pieces. It has carved shoulders and wing outlines with carved primaries and raised wingtips. There is a brass shotgun shell head embedded in the belly of the decoy. Although the purpose of this is unknown, I have seen it in one other example from this company as well as in the rigmate to this bird. The bill is original. There is a tight crack in the tail. Stand included
Price: $750.00
