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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.
D0927: Alfred Chopin Bar-Tailed Godwit Decoy, France, Circa 1950
I recently was involved in a trade in which I acquired a rather exceptional European shorebird decoy that reminds me very much of the work of Bill Bowman. I sent photos of the bird to three French experts in the field and received similar replies. One says the decoy is a bar-tailed godwit (called a “barge†in France) that is definitely by Alfred Chopin (1906 - 1982) of Sete, France, circa 1950. The other two agree as to species and say it is probably by Chopin. Chopin is recognized as France’s premier decoy maker. I’ve searched the internet for comparable sales and found only two, both of the same decoy. It was a curlew by Chopin that sold in the McCleery auction (January 2002, Lot 562) and again in 2016 (Guyette & Deeter, November 2016, Lot 220). In the first instance, it sold for $4600.00 and for $2012.50 in the second. Both prices include the buyer’s premium. This glass-eyed decoy is made in three plies, a center of wood flanked on each side by cork. It has relief wing carving, extended wing tips and a slightly exaggerated crop. The bill is a high quality professional repair, utilizing the broken pieces of the original bill. The bill is a high quality professional repair, utilizing the (broken pieces of?) the original bill. This decoy was owned about 30 years ago by a Boston antique dealer who dropped it and had the bill repaired. The person I got it from cannot remember whether he was told that the bill itself was broken or if it was intact but broken out of the face. When the bill was broken, there was damage done to the cork face immediately surrounding it. That area (approximately 1/2") was repaired as well. There is also some touch up to the tail’s tip. These repairs show up under black light but are very well done and virtually unnoticeable. The godwit is in otherwise original highly detailed blended feather paint showing light to moderate flaking and wear. It’s a large bird, measuring about 17†from tip of bill to tip of tail, but to fully appreciate its size, look at the last photo below, taken with a Shourds robin snipe in the foreground. If you are interested in the godwit, your price would be $875.00 including shipping. SOLD
D0925: Unknown Wood Pigeon Decoy, Suffolk, UK, Circa Mid 20C
One of a striking rig of decoys by an unknown carver, circa late 2nd to early 3rd quarter of the 20th century. They were found in and are possibly from Suffolk, UK. The carver made these decoys in a number of different poses and sizes, leading me to the conclusion that they were made without pattern. I had originally thought that these decoys were made by a hunter for his own use, but I‘ve now seen enough examples to suggest that they could be a small volume commercial product. While each individual example is exemplary in its own right, a grouping in various poses produces a synergistic effort of great appeal. The bills on these decoys were crafted from nylon or a similar synthetic material rather than wood or cast metal. Unfortunately, the material proved to be rather brittle, resulting in breakage and replacement as is the case with this example. Measuring 15†in length, it is in original paint that has developed a very pleasing patina.
SOLD
D0926: Unknown Wood Pigeon Decoy, Mid-20th Century
Very well done fat-bodied English wood pigeon decoy from the London area, circa late 2nd quarter to early 3rd quarter, 20th century. Most unusually, it is of six-piece construction. The body is made of four vertical laminations, two at the body’s center and one for each raised-tip wing with carved shoulders. The glass-eyed head and neck are formed from a fifth piece attached at the breast while the tail is an inserted sixth piece. Also unusual is the carving of nostril ceres, the soft, fleshy patches at the base of the upper side of the bill. Overall, the decoy is structurally sound with no separation of the pieces comprising the whole. The decoy is in strong original polychrome paint showing minimal soiling or wear. Stand included.
SOLD
M370: Wildfowler-Style Redhead Drake Decoy, Richard & Marion Harris
Three-quarter scale Wildfowler-style decorative redhead drake by Richard and Marion Harris, Harris Wild Duck Decoys, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, circa 1960. The Harris's worked for Wildfower for 25 years, he as a carver and she as a painter, until the company moved to Quogue, Long Island, in the winter of 1957-1958. The solid-bodied carving, made of high grade Eastern white pine, is in excellent original paint other than for touchup at a tight and stable crack through the neck. One of the glass eyes is cracked but otherwise intact. The bird measures 11" in length, 4 3/4" in width and stands 5" tall at the head. As was characteristic of their work, black paint was used to indicate the separation of the bill and face. As was less common but seen in a few of their carvings, the margin between the face and bill was also wood-burned. A similar example can be seen on page 161 of Wildfowler Decoys by Dick Cowan and Dick LaFountain. SOLD
M370: Three-Quarter Scale Redhead Drake, Richard & Marion Harris
Three-quarter scale Wildfowler-style decorative redhead drake by Richard and Marion Harris, Harris Wild Duck Decoys, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, circa 1960. The Harris's worked for Wildfower for 25 years, he as a carver and she as a painter, until the company moved to Quogue, Long Island, in the winter of 1957-1958. The solid-bodied carving, made of high grade Eastern white pine, is in excellent original paint other than for touchup at a tight and stable crack through the neck. One of the glass eyes is cracked but otherwise intact. The bird measures 11" in length, 4 3/4" in width and stands 5" tall at the head. As was characteristic of their work, black paint was used to indicate the separation of the bill and face. As was less common but seen in a few of their carvings, the margin between the face and bill was also wood-burned. A similar example can be seen on page 161 of Wildfowler Decoys by Dick Cowan and Dick LaFountain. SOLD
D0920: Gene Hendrickson Old Squaw Decoy, Circa Mid-20C
Very nice hollow-bodied old squaw drake with tack eyes by Joseph Eugene "Gene" Hendrickson (1896-1971), Northfield, New Jersey, circa mid-twentieth century. The decoy, which has never been rigged, is in dry original paint showing only very light soiling. There is a very slight separation to the body seam with some paint loss in that area. Hendrickson used an insetted bottom weight in the same manner as Harry V. Shourds. His initials, JEH, are stamped into the weight. In addition to being a professional decoy maker, Hendrickson, who began carving decoys circa 1920, was also an accomplished sneakbox builder and carpenter.
SOLD
D0077: Bluebill Drake Decoy, Ontario or Michigan, Circa 3Q, 20C
Very nice bluebill drake from southwestern Ontario or Michigan , circa 3rd quarter, 20th century. Other than for a tight age split in the bottom, it is in near-mint original condition. Showing the influence of Ben Schmidt and Ken Anger among others from this area, this glass-eyed decoy exhibits heavy overall texturing and rasping, incised wing outlines, deeply carved side pockets, a fluted tail and detailed bill carving. The decoy measures 13.5" in length, 7" in width and stands 3" and 5.5" high at the back and head, respectively. The encircled initials "DS", presumably those of the maker, are stamped into the bottom. SOLD
D0076: Sleeping Bluebill Hen Decoy, Ontario or Michigan, Circa 3Q, 20C
Well executed sleeping bluebill hen from southwestern Ontario or Michigan , circa 3rd quarter, 20th century. It is in near-mint original condition. Showing the influence of Ben Schmidt and Ken Anger among others from this area, this plump-bodied hen with glass eyes exhibits heavy overall rasping, incised wing outlines, deeply carved side pockets and a fluted tail. The decoy measures 13.5" in length, 7.5" in width and stands 4" and 6" high at the back and head, respectively. The encircled initials "DS", presumably those of the maker, are stamped into the bottom. SOLD
