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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.
M286: Runar Rodell Canada Goose Diorama, Circa 1930s
Diorama of two Canada geese in a salt marsh setting by Runar G. Rodell, Wilmette, Illinois, circa 1930s. Rodell, born in Sweden in 1898, moved to the U.S. in his thirties, opening a studio around 1935 in Wilmette before finally settling in Prescott, AZ, around 1950. He died in 1983. His works usually incorporate oil-painted backgrounds and figures (people, animals, birds, buildings, etc.) carved from basswood with plant materials created from bits of natural vegetation in the foreground. Among his collectors were Bob Hope and Ronald Reagan. It is believed that all of his work made in Prescott had a paper studio label on the back, whereas his work from Illinois was simply signed on the back. This piece is in original condition with the roughly 2-1/2" geese exhibiting detailed painted plumage. Geese were a relatively rare subject matter for Rodell. It is signed "Original by R. Rodell, Canada Goose" on the back. The overall dimensions of the diorama are 12 3/4" x 15" with the glass measuring roughly 7 5/8" x 9 5/8". The oak case is 3 1/2" deep. The dark area at the top of the first two photos is the curved top surface of the diorama which is in shadow. SOLD
D0740: Dan English Black Duck Decoy
Outstanding classic Delaware River black duck decoy with impeccable provenance by Dan English (1883-1962) of Florence, New Jersey. Dan was the son of John English and brother of Jack English, both carvers of fine Delaware River style decoys. This decoy is one of a rig made for Clarence Winter of Bristol, Pennsylvania, and referred to by collector's as "Winter's Famous Fifty". The hollow-bodied bird, in excellent original feather paint, has glass eyes, a low or contented head position, outlined feathers, raised primaries and a notched tail. There is a slight chip on the left edge of the bill and some small paint rubs on the crown of head, the point of the raised primaries and the edge of the notched tail. The carving measures 15" in length, 5.5' in width and is 6" high at the head. The lead weight on the bottom is attached with twelve brass escutcheon pins. "C. Winter" is stamped twice into the weight and once into the bottom of decoy. Winter's stencil, reading "C. W. Winter, Bristol, PA" is visible on the bottom. It also has the collection stamp of Bob White, noted carver, collector and decoy historian, on the bottom. In the last photo, in addition to the Bob White collection stamp, you can best see the white Winter stencil. See "Floating Sculpture", Huster and Knight, for documentation and photos of Dan and Winter's rig. SOLD
D0742/D0743: Pair of Milwaukee Museum School Mallard Decoys
Excellent pair of oversized Wisconsin mallard decoys made by a Lake Michigan charter boat captain named Gordon Caskowski of Milwaukee, circa 1940. Caskowski's decoys were used at Wind Point, Racine, Wisconsin. These folky decoys were the product of the Milwaukee Museum Carvers era and bear a strong resemblance to the birds attributed by the decoy auction houses to Warren Dettman. The two were formerly in the collection of Russ Van Houzen and still retain his collection tags on the bottoms. According to the information on the hen's tag, Van Houzen added them to his collection in 1968. The deep-bodied glass-eyed decoys have 4-piece laminated bodies with carved raised wings and detailed bill carving. The drake's head is turned slightly to the left. Each has been lightly hit by shot, and the hen has had a professional repair to a crack in the neck. There are also small chips missing from both of the hen's wingtips. They remain in bold original paint with only minor wear. The highly detailed feather paint on the hen is especially noteworthy and well executed. Each decoys measure approximately 16†long, 8-1/2†wide and 9-1/2†tall. SOLD
D0738: Doug Jester Black Duck Decoy
Nice fat-bodied black duck by Doug Jester of Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1925. The decoy is in worn original paint with flaking (this condition is not unusual for Jester's decoys as they were apparently not primed before painting) and wear, particularly to the back and upper left side. The scratch feather paint remains strong on the head and remains visible on portions of the body. There are several age cracks with the largest being on the lower right side. The decoy measures roughly 14 1/2" in length. SOLD
D0734: Trulock & Harris English Wood Pigeon
Excellent English wood pigeon decoy by an unknown carver, sold through the gunsmith firm of Trulock & Harris of Suffolk, UK, circa late 1800s through 1910, and considered to be the premier examples of English wood pigeons. The decoy has a laminated solid-body with glass eyes and it's original molded lead bill. The shoulders are deeply carved as are the raised primaries and the fluted tail. The paint is original but weathered. There was a crack in the tail which has been professionally repaired. Please see Maine Antique Digest, Dec 1988, pp.38-D to 39-D, "From American Ducks To English Pigeons", by Dave Malys. SOLD
M283: Runar Rodell Flushing Mallards Diorama
Diorama of 2 flushing mallards by Runar G. Rodell, Wilmette, Illinois, circa 1930s to 1940s. Rodell, born in Sweden in 1898, moved to the U.S. in his thirties, opening a studio around 1935 in Wilmette before finally settling in Prescott, AZ, around 1950. He died in 1983. His works usually incorporate oil-painted backgrounds and figures (people, animals, birds, buildings, etc.) carved from basswood with plant materials created from bits of natural vegetation in the foreground. Among his collectors were Bob Hope and Ronald Reagan. It is believed that all of his work made in Prescott had a paper studio label on the back, whereas his work from Illinois was simply signed on the back. This piece is in original condition with the roughly 2-1/2" ducks exhibiting intricate individual primary feathers and detailed painted plumage. It is signed "Original by R. G. Rodell, Mallard" on the back. The overall dimensions of the diorama are 12 3/4" x 15" with the glass measuring roughly 7 1/2" x 9 1/2". The oak case is 3 1/2" deep. SOLD
M252: Wilmer Reinbold Flying Miniature Redhead Decoy
Mint flying miniature redhead hen by George Wilmer Reinbold (1885 - 1946), Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, circa 1940. Both the carving and original paint are expertly detailed and beautifully accomplished with the latter exhibiting a mellow patina. The duck has an approximate wingspan of 10", measures 7.25" bill to tail and is signed "Reinbold†on the back of the lower wing. There is a thin wire hanger on the back for mounting the carving on a wall. Wilmer’s work was represented in the most popular and well known outdoor outfitters, wildlife-themed gift shops, and galleries of the day, notably Richard Stockton’s Shop in Bryn Mawr, PA, Caldwell's in Philadelphia, and Crossroads of Sport and Abercrombie & Fitch in New York City. It is highly regarded and much sought after today. Wilmer was the father of noted carver Bill Reinbold of Chestertown, Maryland. SOLD
M255: Wilmer Reinbold Flying Miniature Green-Winged Teal Decoy
Near-mint flying miniature green-winged teal drake by George Wilmer Reinbold (1885 - 1946), Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, circa 1940. Both the carving and original paint are expertly detailed and beautifully accomplished with the latter exhibiting a mellow patina. There are tiny chips missing from two wing tips and a small drying crack under the tail. The duck has an approximate wingspan of 9.5", measures just over 7" bill to tail and is signed "Reinbold†on the back of the lower wing. There is a thin wire hanger on the back for mounting the carving on a wall. Wilmer’s work was represented in the most popular and well known outdoor outfitters, wildlife-themed gift shops, and galleries of the day, notably Richard Stockton’s Shop in Bryn Mawr, PA, Caldwell's in Philadelphia, and Crossroads of Sport and Abercrombie & Fitch in New York City. It is highly regarded and much sought after today. Wilmer was the father of noted carver Bill Reinbold of Chestertown, Maryland. SOLD
