Decoy-Dux | email info@decoy-dux.com | phone: 865.458.6186 | site terms & conditions - contact me - sitemap
Hollow canvasback drake decoy with painted eyes by noted carver and sculptor Grainger McKoy, Sumter, South Carolina, signed and dated. McKoy is recognized as one of America's foremost wildlife sculptors. He has been honored with exhibitions at major museums an galleries and his work is included in public and private collections throughout the country. This decoys an early work by McKoy, carved while he was a student at Clemson University in 1967. It is made from three laminations, measuring 13 1/2" in length, 6" in width and standing 7 1/2" tall at the head. It is in excellent structural condition with the wing tips are carved in outline. The original paint is highly detailed, showing only minor wear. Also included is a copy of "The Sculpture of Grainger McKoy" (James Kilgo, 1999, 64 pages, softcover) signed by McKoy. SOLD
Very nice hollow-bodied swimming Canada goose decoy by an unknown carver from the mid-Atlantic region (probably New Jersey), circa 2nd quarter, 20th century. The body of the decoy was roughed out and finished by spoke shave with the facets of the cuts remaining visible. The decoy appears to have seen little use, but there is separation at the seam of the body and bottom board. It is in original paint other than for touchup at the around the neck seat. Measuring 27" in length, it is a rigmate to D0954 listed and available separately. SOLD
Exceptional English wood pigeon decoy by Robert Lange, Yorkshire, UK, circa late 1800s to early 1900s. These decoys were limited in production and are some of the finest early decoys the UK has to offer. This decoy is carved in Lange's finest style with extended split wing tips, deeply carved wings and shoulders and a full breast. Exhibiting an excellent patina, it is in excellent original paint showing only minor wear with mottled breast, neatly scalloped neck patches and fluid but precisely applied wing markings.. A solid-bodied decoy with high quality glass eyes, it measures 13" in length and is roughly 3.5" thick. Retaining its original bill, it has been lightly hit by shot and has a tight crack it its tail. One would be hard pressed to find a finer example by this important maker. Stand included.
Price: $1395.00
Very nice hollow-bodied preening Canada goose decoy by an unknown carver from the mid-Atlantic region (probably New Jersey), circa 2nd quarter, 20th century. The body of the decoy was roughed out and finished by spoke shave with the facets of the cuts remaining visible. The decoy appears to have seen little use, but there is separation at the seam of the body and bottom board. It is in original paint other than for touchup at the junction of the head and body. Measuring 21" in length, it is a rigmate to D0955 listed and available separately. SOLD
Exceptional great horned owl decoy by an unknown carver, circa mid-20th century. Probably influenced by Herter's popular owls of the mid-1940s to mid-1950s but made from cedar rather than balsa, this fine example has deeply carved wing and shoulder outlines, a claw beak, leather ears and glass eyes. A large decoy (20" high, 9" wide, 6" deep and weighing 7 pounds) showing only light wear, it is in original feather paint with no repairs or touch up. There is a mounting plate attached under the legs as this decoy was made for the field, not the mantle. There is a sticker on the back of the decoy attesting to the inclusion of this fine carving in an auction conducted by Richard Oliver in the 1980s or early 1990s. Owl decoys were used by hunters to bring crows, their mortal enemies, into shotgun range. Stand included. SOLD
Rare and excellent solid-bodied tack-eye mallard hen by Joseph A. Zender (1888-1960), Chicago, Illinois, circa 1930s. Zender, an avid hunter and member of the Peru Gun Club, carved approximately 200 decoys over a 15-year span beginning in 1929. Round-bodied and a bit chunky, his rather distinctive decoys were painted in elaborate feather patterns. This decoy, showing light to moderate wear with some paint rubs and flaking and measuring 14.5" in length, has its head turned nearly 45 degrees to the right and is in highly detailed original paint with light craquelure and two very short and tight shrinkage cracks in the back of the head and neck. Neither crack goes completely through. The carving probably has a faint protective coating of shellac, but if so, it is not visible to the eye. The original weight is still in place. The decoy, possibly made for use on the rougher water of Lake Michigan, also has a poured lead weight that is original to it placed in its bottom for additional ballast. The last photo shows this decoy along with a drake by Zender, not included. See D0956 available separately. SOLD
Excellent solid-bodied, tack-eye mallard drake by Joseph A. Zender (1888-1960), Chicago, Illinois, circa 1930s. Zender, an avid hunter and member of the Peru Gun Club, carved approximately 200 decoys over a 15-year span beginning in 1929. Round-bodied and a bit chunky, his rather distinctive decoys were painted in elaborate feather patterns. This decoy, measuring 15.5" in length, has its head turned roughly 30 degrees to the left and is in highly detailed original paint showing minimal wear with light craquelure and with no structural flaws. It has a faint protective coating of shellac which is visible only on the white areas of the decoy. The original weight is still in place. The decoy, possibly made for use on the rougher water of Lake Michigan, also has a poured led weight that is original to it placed in its back for additional ballast. The last photo shows this decoy along with a rather rare hen by Zender, not included. See D0957 available separately. SOLD
Well-executed classic hollow-bodied Delaware River black duck decoy by John "Mickey" McLoughlin (1911-1985), Bordentown, New Jersey. This is one of Mickey's much-sought-after working decoys, circa 1930s. The decoy has deeply carved raised wing tips and detailed bill carving and is in original scratch-feather paint with minor to moderate wear. Measuring 17 " in length, 6.5" in width and standing 7" high at the head, it was signed on the base by McLoughlin at a later date. SOLD