the third edition of the crowdedhouse antiques newsletter which is

CROWDEDHOUSE
ANTIQUES newsletter
vol 9 january 2014
Collecting duck decoys
Welcome to the eighth edition of the Crowdedhouse antiques newsletter. This edition is
devoted to the “Collecting of Duck Decoys”. I hope this issue will give you a greater
appreciation of the charm and timeless beauty of these beautiful pieces. This edition has
many photos with a range of auction values for exceptional pieces that always depend
heavily on rarity and condition, condition and condition. The list of carvers is endless and
some carvings have values exceeding a million dollars with $5,000 to $10,000 being
fairly common. Everyday working decoys can be purchased for $50.00 to a few hundred
dollars but I have confined this newsletter to those exceptional decoys that are out of
reach for most of us but it will provide some appreciation of these wonderful works of
floating sculpture.
I invite your questions and comments and will attempt to answer all enquirers in a timely
manner. I hope you find the following article informative and enjoyable reading. You
may address your comments and questions to [email protected]
A Brief History of Duck Decoys
The art of making a clever hunting decoy is a tradition that has been passed down from
hunter to hunter for centuries. Duck skins from earlier kills were stretched over the
decoys, rendering them lifelike. In earlier times the duck’s feathers were woven onto the
decoy and tied on with hemp strings. The heads and necks were painted to match the
duck species. The ancient art of using tule reed, a plant related to the bullrush is still
being made and used today by Native Americans especially at the Stillwater Marsh in
western Nevada.
Transplanted Europeans improved on the Indians reed decoys by carving them out of
wood which was more durable and they used coloured pigments to create a realistic look.
The carved decoys can be hollow or solid body depending on the carver. In the last
decade decoy collecting has exploded with exhibitions in several art museums and
including the Smithsonian Institute. When Betty Ford was the first lady, she frequently
used decoys as centerpieces at state dinners in the White House.
A man by the name of Joel Barber is the first known collector, who started collecting
decoys in 1918. Today the carved wooden decoy is viewed as important North American
Folk art. Barber wrote the first book “Wild Fowl Decoys” that promoted them as
collectible objects of art. In 1965 folk art dealer Adele Earnest wrote “The Art of the
Decoy” and followed by William F. Mackey’s “American Bird Decoys”. By the 1970’s
decoys were becoming big business. In September 2007 a Canadian goose and a preening
pintail drake by A. Elmer Crowell of East Harwick, Massachusetts were sold for 1.13
Million dollars each. One of the most famous contemporary carvers is Delbert Cigar
Daisey from Chincoteague VA. His pintail decoy was featured in the June 1980 edition
of the National Geographic on page 826. The decoy was valued at $100,000 – $150,000
at that time.
Some very valuable were produced by factories the most famous of which was the Mason
factory (1896-1924) in Detroit Michigan. Other factories included the Petersen factory in
Detroit which was sold to Jasper Dodge in 1883, J. N. Dodge (1829-1909) , J.W.
Reynolds of Chicago, Swisher & Soule of Decatur Illinois, Hays of Jefferson City,
Missouri, H.A. Stevens of Westport NY, Evans Factory (1872-1948) of Ladysmith
Wisconsin, Wildflower Decoys of Old Saybrook Connecticut, Herter’s Inc. of Waseca
Minnesota, L.L. Bean of Freeport Maine, Peterborough Canoe Company of Peterborough
Ontario, and Mintz decoys of Boise Idaho.
What to look for when collecting decoys
First of all anyone interested in collecting decoys should collect ones that you enjoy. The
value of a decoy depends on a variety of factors, including the condition of the wood and
of the paint itself, rarity, authenticity, carver reputation, duck species, poses like
swimming or preening, and local collector interest. Authenticity is crucial. Is the head
original, is it structurally sound and is there any indication of repair or restoration.
The optimum purchase is one where the bird was carved and made for hunting but was
never actually used. As always beware of reproductions.
My apologies for some of the photos being not perfect but I had to blow them up from
small photos.
Duck decoy 400 BC – AD 100 Lovelock Cave, Humboldt County, Nevada, Tule
rush, feathers, cordage, paint 29 x 13 x 16.5 cm Collected by Mark R. Harrington.
Duck decoy 400 BC – AD 100 Lovelock Cave, Humboldt County, Nevada, Tule
rush, cattail, cordage, paint 33 x 12 x 17 cm Collected by Mark R. Harrington.
Slot Neck Goose from Massachusetts, maker unknown, sold January 2007 for
$553,600.
William Basnight of Manteo North Carolina was a caretaker in Durant’s Island
Club in Dare County. He produced magnificent swan decoys some hollow and some
with solid body. All his swans are highly prized by collectors and museums.
Swan by William Basnight sold November 2013.
A. Elmer Crowell 1862-1952 was a master decoy carver from East Harwick,
Massachusetts. Crowell specialized in shorebirds, waterfowl and miniatures.
Crowell’s decoys are consistently regarded as the finest and most desirable ever
made.
Black Bellied Plover by Elmer Crowell sold August 2013.
Lem and Steve Ward were born in the 1890’s and were barbers who carved decoys
in their spare time. They gained national fame after National Geographic wrote an
article about them in 1964. Lem and Steve gave unique expressions and poses to
their birds. There is a Ward Museum of Wildfowl At in Salisbury Maryland that
honours the carvings of the Ward Brothers.
Hooded Merganser by Ward Brothers sold November 2013.
Swimming Goldeneye by the Ward Brothers sold November 2006.
Feeding “Dust Jacket” Black Bellied Plover by Elmer Crowell sold November 2006.
Nathan Cobb of Cobb Island Virginia was a member of the famous Cobb family
that settled the island as a result of a shipwreck in 1833. His decoys are generally
possessed life like painting but lacked sophisticated detailing.
Curlew by Nathan Cobb sold November 2006.
Lothrop Holmes 1824-1899 was an important wildfowl decoy carver. Currently his
Red Breasted Merganser pictured below ranks number one on the top 50 decoys
ever sold at “Auction” A “private” of Elmer Crowell holds the highest price ever at
1.13 million.
Red breasted Merganser hen by Lothrop Holmes January 2007 $856,000.
Henry Ruggles 1830 – 1897 was one of the earliest carvers from the Illinois River
Valley. Henry created very fine and distinctive birds. A scarce number of his decoys
have been found, but his style influenced a generation of carvers.
Canvas Back drake by Henry Ruggles sold April 2013.
John Blair Sr. 1842 – 1928 lived on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. His
son also carved beautiful decoys. There are some attribution issues and many
unknown makers of the Blair school but the style is quite evident. Blair Sr is known
to have made decoys with three slabs, as well as two and joined them with dowels.
His decoys differ from the Delaware River decoy in that his are long and lean.
Swimming Mallard by John Blair Sr sold April 2013.
Harry V. Shourds was born in New Jersey on July 24, 1930. He was a third
generation decoy carver from Barnegat Bay area in New Jersey and the grandson of
legendary duck decoy carver Harry Vinuckson Shourds 1861-1920. Shourds are
crafted to look and float like real ducks making them effective for use in duck
hunting.
Brant Goose by Harry V. Shourds 1890 – 1943 sold April 2013.
Mason Decoy Factory 1896 – 1924 was based in Detroit Michigan. The Mason
factory was started by William J. Mason in 1896 and produced three types of
decoys, Standard grade, Challenge grade and Premier grade.
Old Squaw by Mason Decoy Factory sold April 2013.
Blue Wing Teal drake by Harvey Stevens sold April 2013.
Black Duck by Mason Decoy Factory sold November 2012.
Ira Hudson 1876-1949 was born in Maryland but grew up in Delaware. He later
moved to Chincoteague Virginia and started carving in 1897. It is estimated that
Hudson carved 60,000 decoys in his lifetime.
Black Duck by Ira Hudson sold November 2011.
Flying Tern by Elmer Crowell sold August 2013.
John Williams 1857-1937 Cedar Island, North Carolina. John Williams spent most
of his time as a professional guide and market hunter. He is well known for his
chubby Ruddy ducks and huge swans as pictured below.
Swan by John Williams sold November 2011.
Premier Grade Blue wing Teal by Mason Decoy Factory sold November 2011.
Benjamin Dye 1827 -1896 was a fisherman and hunter from Perryville Maryland.
He was one of the earliest decoy carvers and his hand made decoys were made
according to the classic Chesapeake Bay style.
Lesser Scaup by Ben Dye sold November 2011.
Pintail Drake from Kanakee Illinois sold April 2009.
Charles Jester 1876-1952 was a carver from Chincoteague Virginia. His decoys were
conceived as working decoys and are of outstanding quality. The area was known
for boat building so consequently the construction of his decoys were done mostly
with marine adhesives and durable marine paint.
Pair of Buffleheads by Charles Jester sold April 2009.
Alvira Wright (1869-1951) was born in Camden North Carolina. His carvings have
a bold simplistic look. His total lifetime output of ruddies, canvasbacks and a few
redheads and blackheads number fewer than twelve dozen. He is considered one of
the finest carvers ever to come from North Carolina.
Ruddy Duck by Alvira Wright sold April 2009.
Swan from St Clair flats sold April 2009.
Merganser by Mason Decoy factory sold April 2009.
Phinneas Reeves was a Long Point Company guide in the late 1800’s and is one of
the finest carvers ever produced by Canada. He is well known for his hollow goose
decoys like the one pictured below.
Canada Goose by Phinneas Reeves sold April 2010.
Curlew by Elmer Crowell sold August 2013.
James Holly 1855-1935 was born and raised in Havre de Grace, Harford County
Maryland. Jim, a master boat builder and craftsman by trade he is best known
today for his classy sleek black duck decoys. His decoys are beautifully painted and
prized by collectors.
Pintail hen by James Holly sold April 2013.
Tom Chambers 1860 – 1948 was from Wallaceburg Ontario. He led a quiet solitary
life and spent his early years as a market hunter in the Toronto Harbour. His early
decoys have rounded heads and extensive bill carving. His decoys had to forego the
more elegant look to accommodate the needs of the hunter. Colours are muted with
feather combing on the backs and wings. The dull red and grey he blended and
scratch painted created a very life like decoy.
Redhead drake by Tom Chambers sold February 2013.
The Stevens brothers were descendants of Captain William Stevens who was born
in England and migrated to America to take part in the Boston Tea Party. Harvey
and George Stevens were two brothers from Weedsport New York who made
quality decoys from the late 1860’s until about 1905. Today’s collectors appreciate
the talents of both men albeit Harvey is the better known.
Bufflehead by Stevens Brothers sold November 2012.
Mark English was from Somers Point New Jersey. His decoys have a distinct
appearance with their short choppy bodies with a sharp sudden drop under the tail.
Old Squaw by Mark English sold November 2012.
Augustus Aaron Wilson 1864- 1950 was born in Mount Desert Island, Maine. His
career spanned more than fifty years during which time Gus crested a vast array of
diverse forms. Unlike other famous carvers the sculptural form of his decoys is far
more important than the paint.
Merganser by Gus Wilson sold July 2012.
Eider drake from Maine sold July 2012.
Samuel Hutchings 1894 – 1995 was from Jones falls Ontario. Sam was a farmer and
construction contractor. At an early age he was given the responsibility of carving
the family decoys for the family hunting trips. Hutchings relief carved the decoy
wings and then textured the surface by checking it with a file.
Hooded Merganser by Sam Hutchings sold July 2012.
I hope this newsletter will open up your senses to the beauty of these works of art.
That concludes this edition of my newsletter. If you have any questions or would like
your item appraised contact me at [email protected]