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.
D0911: Midwestern Canada Goose
One honkin' big Canada goose field decoy with glass eyes by an unknown Midwestern maker (possibly Wisconsin), circa 2nd quarter, 20th century. Carved in the high-head "sentinel" posture and measuring 27" in overall length with a 2-piece laminated balsa body and 2-piece hardwood head/neck, it stands 15" tall at the head. The decoy, exhibiting moderate flaking and wear, has detailed bill carving and raised, crossed wing tips. Two metal straps are attached to the underside to allow the attachment of legs for lifelike placement of the decoy in the field. Other than a second coat of paint applied to the white areas, the decoy is in mostly original paint with detailed feathering on the sides and back.
SOLD
D0916: Early Shourds Sanderling Decoy, Circa Late 1Q, 20C
Very appealing sanderling decoy with painted eyes from Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa 1st quarter, 20th century. Soon-to-be published research by Jimmy and Debbie Allen in which a photo of this decoy will be included reveals that it was carved by Johnny Shourds, the younger brother of Harry V. Shourds. The full-bodied shorebird is in original feather paint and retains its original bill and is in excellent overall structural condition with the exception of a small chip at the tip of the tail. Stand included.
Price: $2500.00
D0915: Leonard Doren Mallard Hen Decoy, Circa 1930s
Excellent hollow, round-bodied mallard hen decoy with glass eyes and detailed bill carving by Leonard Doren (1895-1965) of Pekin, Illinois, circa 1930. Best known for his owl decoys, Doren also produced over 200 practical and realistic mallards, pintails and bluebills over a career spanning 30 years. This decoy, carved in the classic Illinois River style, measures 16 1/2" in length from the tip of the bill to the tip of tail. It is in lightly-crazed original detailed feather paint. Exhibiting a pleasing patina, the decoy is in excellent structural condition showing only light to moderate wear. SOLD
D0907: Harry V. Shourds Robin Snipe Decoy
Excellent robin snipe with painted eyes by Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa late 19th to early 20th century. Measuring 9" in length and about 2 1/4" in thickness, this full-bodied little bird in breeding plumage is in original paint showing only light flaking and wear. The original bill has had a professional repair by Russ Allen to replace a sliver off the bottom of the bill (see last two photos for "before" and "after" photos) with touch up to that area. There is an owner's mark, a stylized "A", etched into the paint below the stick hole. SOLD
D0910: Excellent English Wood Pigeon Decoy, Circa mid-20th Century
Feeding English wood pigeon with painted eyes by an unknown maker, circa early mid-20th century. The body has been hollowed from below as were those of the feeding pigeons of Harry Boddy and Ted Grace, the idea being that a breeze could more easily impart motion to lighter decoys, simulating a feeding motion. The decoy is in original condition other than a replaced bill with touch up to that area. The paint in the birds breeding plumage is strong with almost no wear. It has carved wing outlines as seen on many wood pigeon decoys but also exhibits feather carving on the wings with crossed and raised wingtips and a fluted tail. It measures just over 13" in length and is about 4-1/4" wide at the shoulders. The decoy was found in central England, near Sheffield. Stand included. SOLD
D0909: Rare Flying English Wood Pigeon Decoy, Circa Mid-20th Century
Rare and excellent flying wood pigeon, carved as if landing, by an unknown English maker, circa mid-20th century. Wood pigeon decoys in a flying form are seldom found. Most unusually, the body, including the head and bill, is carved from one piece of hardwood. The separately-carved wings are approximately 1/4" thick. They are slightly cupped and tapered at the tips and edges and are inset into the back of the decoy. The carving is in fine original condition with detailed feather paint on the back and wings, showing minimal wear other than a chip to the edge of the right wing tip. The bird measures 13" in length and has a wingspan of 21-1/2". The last photo shows this decoy along with a feeding example by the same maker (D0910l not included, available separately). This decoy was found in central England, near Sheffield. Stand included.
SOLD
M369: Joe Ahearn Bobwhite Quail Diorama, Circa 1940s
Fine diorama of a pair of flying bobwhite quail (male above, female below), by James Joseph "Joe" Ahearn (1904-1963), Stamford, CT and New York City, circa 1940s. An excellent effort, these roughly half-scale full-bodied quail measure 4 1/2" in length (tip of bill to tip of tail) with 6" wingspans. The diorama is in excellent structural condition with a few scratches and overall light wear to the Arts and Crafts style frame which is 10 1/8" x 12 3/8" x 3". The quail themselves are in mint condition with tiny glass taxidermy eyes, carved primaries and excellent detailed feather paint. Ahearn became well-known in the mid-1940's as a carver of miniatures. It is unclear when he began carving them although it is presumed that he started in the late 1930's, if not sooner. While Joe lived in the New York City area where he was a salesman for the National Cash Register Company he was known to have carved miniatures while on the road. At the onset of World War II, he and his wife moved to Stamford, Connecticut. The first documentation of his carvings being offered for sale is in the 1945-46 catalog of the Sporting Gallery and Bookstore in New York City. This catalog featured a wide selection of Ahearn's "functional hunter" and "sportsman oriented" items such as lamps, wall thermometers, letter openers, coat racks, tie racks, pipe racks, book ends and ashtrays in a variety of configurations. It was around this time that he also began offering his miniature carvings of waterfowl and upland game birds. One of the first and certainly the most important retailer to carry his carvings was the Crossroads of Sport store in New York City. They were enjoying a huge demand for A. J. King's miniatures and were more than eager to complement his products with another carver's work. Ahearn is featured in "Birds in Wood and Paint" by Joe Ellis. SOLD
D0905: Mason Factory Blue-Winged Teal Decoy, Circa 1910
Nice Standard Grade glass-eyed blue-winged teal drake by the Mason Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1910. The decoy is in original paint showing moderate flaking and wear. There is a hairline age split in the back and a wider one with factory-applied filler in the bottom. The neck filler has been professionally replaced with touch-up to that area (See last two photos).
SOLD
