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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.
D0906: New Jersey Black-Bellied Plover Decoy, Circa 1900
Black-bellied plover by an unknown New Jersey maker, circa 1900. The decoy is a nice full-bodied bird in dry original paint showing average in-use wear with some light flaking. It measures 11’ in length from the tip of the bill to the tail. There is a thin crack in the neck, but it is quite stable. As seen in the last three photos, there is a chip on the right side of the head where the face meets the bill, but the bill itself is original and undamaged. Stand included.
SOLD
M367: Early Black Duck Wall Plaque, Bebe MacDonald, Quebec
Excellent folk art wall plaque featuring a half-bodied black duck decoy by Alain de Lotbiniere (Bebe) MacDonald (1886-1961), circa 2nd quarter, 20th century. MacDonald was from Rigaud in southwestern Quebec, near Montreal. He is recognized as an important Quebec artist and carver, not only for the quantity and quality of his work, but also for his influence on other craftsmen. After serving in the Canadian army during WWI, Bebe worked for Robin Last Shoe Factory before opening studios in Rigaud and Montreal. He made fine and highly sought-after decoys as well as his folk art wall plaques and was known for his meticulous decoy heads and precision in painting, both of which characteristics are on display in this plaque. Set on a textured background with marsh grass, the piece, done in MacDonald's most desirable style, is in excellent original paint. The glass-eyed black duck has a scratch-painted head with highly detailed bill carving, a raised wing with carved primaries and a fluted tail. It projects out from the background 1 1/4". Although darkened by age, the elaborate feather paint on the body is still visible. The carving is set in a lightly worn frame measuring 7 3/4" x 6 1/2" with the duck itself being approximately 6 1/4" in length and 3 1/2" in height. Formerly in ther collection of Samuel H. "Sam" Dyke, it is inscribed on the back, "For my son, Samuel H. Dyke. This was the property of Mr. Dwight L. Armstrong who died 9/10/1944. Given to me 10/20/1980. S. E. Dyke". Sam Dyke was one of the founding fathers of the Ward Museum and was a former Chairman of the Museum's Board of Directors. SOLD.
D0859: James Rolph Wood Pigeon Decoy, Circa 1Q, 20 C
Excellent English wood pigeon decoy by James Rolph, Elveden, Suffolk, United Kingdom, circa 1st quarter, 20th century. The decoy is in strong original paint with a pleasing patina with light wear and a smattering of pinpoint worm (now deceased!) holes. It has glass eyes and carved shoulders and wings outlines. Te bill is an excellent and accurate professional replacement by Russ Allen. Painted in the specie's fall plumage, the full-bodied bird measures about 15" in length, 4" in width and 4" in depth at the breast. Rolph carved from roughly 1910 until the 1930s. This is an early example of Rolph’s work, made prior to the end of WWI when Rolph acquired a bandsaw for cutting out the rough decoy. Rolph was the son of Francis Rolph, himself a decoy maker, and the father-in-law of William Jaggard who joined the family business in the early 1930s. One of James's decoys, unidentified as to maker, can be found in the Guyette/Sotheby catalog of Dr. Jim McCleery's collection (Lot 559, Jan 2000). Another, again unidentified, is pictured in Plate 54 of Joel Barber's "Wild Fowl Decoys".
SOLD
M368: Leo McIntosh Fish Decoy, Circa 1990s
Excellent fish decoy by Leo H. McIntosh (1953 - 2007), Stony Creek Decoys, Woodville, New York, circa 1990s. Recognized as one of the best contemporary carvers before his untimely death, Leo apprenticed with Ken Harris for five years before founding Stony Creek Decoys. The decoy, done in the style of master carver Oscar Peterson of Cadillac, Michigan, has a carved mouth and gills and inserted tin fins. Although I am not certain, I believe the eyes are carved. Measuring 8” in length, the carving is in near-mint condition with a very detailed paint pattern. I believe it was intended as a yellow perch. “McIntosh" is incised under the head of the fish. SOLD
M072: I. W. Harper Vitrolite Advertising Sign,
Extremely popular I. W. Harper Whiskey advertising sign, titled "Here's Happy Days", a terrific hunting vignette depicting a hunting cabin with a dog, guns and a bear skin hanging on the wall, copyrighted 1909 by Bernheim Distilling Company. The piece is a chromolithograph transfer on Vitrolite (milk glass) with deep, rich colors, set in its original split log frame. Vitrolite was a structural glass manufactured by The Meyercord Co. of Chicago. Image size approximately 17" x 23”, overall size is 25” x 31”. It is often displayed with light behind it which gives it an even more outstanding presence. The sign itself is in near-mint and undamaged origina1 condition, set in it's original wooden frame.
Price: $1975.00
M072: I. W. Harper Vitrolite Advertising Sign,
Rare and extremely popular I. W. Harper Whiskey advertising sign, titled "Here's Happy Days", a terrific hunting vignette depicting a hunting cabin with a dog, guns and a bear skin hanging on the wall, copyrighted 1909 by Bernheim Distilling Company. The piece is a chromolithograph transfer on Vitrolite (milk glass) with deep, rich colors, set in its original split log frame. Vitrolite was a structural glass manufactured by The Meyercord Co. of Chicago. Image size approximately 17" x 23”, overall size is 25” x 31”. It is often displayed with light behind it which gives it an even more outstanding presence. The sign itself is in near-mint and undamaged origina1 condition, set in it's original wooden frame.
Price: $1750.00
Wood Pigeon Decoy Article: English Wood Pigeon Decoys 101, A Primer
Viewable here at no charge. An introductory article I have written on English wood pigeon decoys, published in the March-April 2015 issue of Hunting and Fishing Collectibles Magazine. If you would like to subscribe to or purchase a copy of the magazine itself, please contact Stan Van Etten, Publisher, at HFCollectibles.com. The article is posted as written; however further research has resulted in some changes in the identification of several carvers. Two later articles on wood pigeon decoys are also posted on my (this) website, each containing current identifications and information.
D0904: Rare Long Island Ringneck Plover Decoy, Circa 1Q, 20C
A fine example of a semipalmated or ringneck plover from East Hampton, Long Island, New York, circa 1st quarter, 20th century. The decoy, which is a seldom-found species by any maker, measures 8.5” in length. It is in intricate original feather paint with carved eyes and extended wingtips and retains its original bill. These decoys were originally attributed to Eugene “Chief” Cuffee, a Native American from the Shinnecock Reservation outside East Hampton. Recent research (See Decoy Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003) regarding these decoys suggests that William Henry Bennett (1867-1954), also of East Hampton, was the carver of the decoys rather than Cuffee. I don't have a dog in this fight! Stand included.
Price: $1495.00
