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Otto Loat Rig
Pintail Drake |
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Hollow carved redwood pintail drake from the newly discovered Otto Loat rig (Alameda, CA), ca. 1940s. This exceptional example is in excellent original paint and condition with a small tail chip. See page 286 and 287 of Wildfowl Decoys of California for additional information on this relatively newly discovered rig of exceptional decoys. There are only approximately 30 of these decoys in existence. IS |
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A real California original...A pintail drake, stick-up "artichoke-head" by Gene Copp of Oakland, CA, ca. 1940s. The head is constructed of fine grain cedar. These were used in volumne with great success in the pickleweed flats on the Suisun Marsh. IS |
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Barnegat Bay
Green-winged Teal Drake |
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Mint green-winged teal by Rick Brown and the Barnegat Bay Decoy Company of Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey. This great example is ca. 1980. OOS |
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Wildfowler Company
Wigeon Drake |
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Rare superior model wigeon drake from the Old Saybrook, CT factory of the Wildfowler Decoy Company, c. 1950. Constructed of balsa for the body and pine for the head. Paint is good and all original. Measures approximately 13" in length. OOS |
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Nice early (70s) hollow carved decorative mallard drake by Ed Snyder (Rio Vista, CA). Paint is excellent and all original. Measures just over 15" in length. A great example of Snyders early decorative work. |
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Larry Zalesky
Mallard Pair |
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Larry Zalesky (Vacaville, CA) Mallard Pair ca. 1970s. Paint is excellent and all original. See page 213-217 of Wildfowl Decoys of California. OOS |
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Larry Zalesky
Canvasbacks |
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Larry Zalesky (Vacaville, CA) canvasback pair ca. 1970s. Paint is excellent and all original. See page 213-217 of Wildfowl Decoys of California. OOS |
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Larry Zalesky (Vacaville, CA) green-winged teal pair signed and dated 6-5-76. Paint is excellent and all original. See page 213-217 of Wildfowl Decoys of California by Michael Miller. Each measures approx. 13" in length. OOS |
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John Patterson
Pintail Drake |
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Wonderful pintail drake attributed to John Patterson (Sacramento, CA), ca. 1900. These are early California decoys with a great stately presence. See page 542-544 of Wildfowl Decoys of California for additional information on this maker. Paint is in old in-use repaint OOS |
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Excellent and all original cackling goose by Bill Neal (Sonoma, CA) signed and dated 3/6/93. Bill Neal is discussed in detail on pages 175-177 in Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Miller and Hanson. Also see the great article in Decoy Mag. (September/October 2010) by Larry Rucker. Branded "WN" under the tail. IS |
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Excellent hollow carved brant by Bill Neal (Sonoma, CA). Bill Neal is discussed in detail on pages 175-177 in Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Miller and Hanson. Also see the great article in Decoy Magazine (September/October 2010) by Larry Rucker. Branded "WN" under the tail. Measures approx. 17.5" in length. IS |
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Excellent and all original pintail pair by Bill Neal (Sonoma, CA). Bill Neal is discussed in detail on pages 175-177 in Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Miller and Hanson. Also see the great article in Decoy Mag. (September/October 2010) by Larry Rucker. Branded "WN" under the tail. IS |
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Bill Neal
Blue-Winged Teal Pair |
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Excellent and all original blue-winged teal pair by Bill Neal (Sonoma, CA) signed and dated 4/1/95. Bill Neal is discussed in detail on pages 175-177 in Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Miller and Hanson. Also see the great article in Decoy Mag. (September/October 2010) by Larry Rucker. Branded "WN" under the tail. IS |
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Solid carved redwood snow goose by Joe "Puggy" Freitas (Rio Vista, CA). IS |
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Wildfowler Co.
Canvasback |
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Hollow carved canvasback drake from the Bohemia, NY factory of the wildfowler decoy company. This is a limited edition model number 685 of 2500 made. Inlaid sportsmens club international medallion in the bottom. Measures 16" in length. See page 138 of Wildfowler Decoys by Cowan and LaFountain for a similar example. IS |
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Mason Co.
Canvasback Drake |
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Great and early Mason challenge grade canvasback drake with heavy paint swirls. Good original paint. The paint on the head may have been taken down to original or a wax was applied. Excellent early example. Measures 14.5" in length. IS |
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All original standard grade, glass eye model mallard drake from the Mason Decoy Company (Detroit, MI) ca. 1910. Neck filler is missing, head is loose and paint is worn to bear wood in various areas. Measures 16" in length. OOS |
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Jerry McLellan
Black Brant |
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Wonderful Pacific black brant by Jerry McLellan (Eureka, CA) ca. 1950s. Jerry was the nephew of the important Humboldt Bay maker Bill McLellan. Jerry's wonderful decoys follow the lines of Bills. I believe this example to have undergone beautiful paint restoration by the talented and deceased artist Don Brewer. IS |
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Mason Co.
Challenge Grade Black Duck |
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Stunning Mason Decoy Company (Detroit, MI) challenge grade black duck in outstanding all original paint and condition. This is an early model ca. 1900. It's very difficult to find these in untouched and excellent all original condition. OOS |
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Honest, all original paint and condition standard grade, glass-eye bluebill pair from the Mason Decoy Company of Detroit, MI (1890-1924). The drake came from the collection of noted early CA collector Jim Keegan. The hen came from the rig of Fergus Ward (San Francisco). OOS |
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James Jensen
Mallard Drake |
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Excellent and all original solid carved western red cedar mallard drake by James Jensen of Astoria, Oregon, ca. 1930s. See pages 87-88 of Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Miller and Hanson. Measures 15 1/4" in length. IS |
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Junky Fuhrmann
Pintail Drake |
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Original pintail drake by Herman "Junky" Fuhrmann (Berkeley, CA), c. 1940's. The body is constructed of cork on board with wooden inserted tail, raised wing tips and pine carved head. Fuhrmann was an accomplished boat builder and his portrait and model ships remain on display at the famous Berkeley landmark, Spenger's Fish Grotto. OOS |
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Sleek and all original solid carved western red cedar mallard hen by Paul Lowe of Astoria, Oregon, ca. 1930s. See pages 88-89 of Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Miller and Hanson. Measures 17 1/2" in length. OOS |
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Gundelfinger
Pintail Drake |
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Hollow, Grand Prix model, pintail drake by the Gundelfinger Wood Products Company of Jefferson City & St. Louis, Missouri, ca. 1920s. This is a rare example in decent all original paint. There appears to be an old bill repair on the right side. Measures approximately 17.5" in length. OOS |
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Dick Janson
Pintail Drake |
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Solid carved pintail drake by Richard Ludwig "Fresh Air Dick" Janson. Janson is widely considered to be among the most influential of the early California decoy makers. This example is ca. 1920s. The paint on the back is good and all original. It appears much of the sides and head have undergone a quality paint restoration. Meaures 17 3/4" in length. IS |
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Decoys Unlimited
Mallard Pair |
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Wonderful, lightly used mallard pair by Jack Sweet and Decoys Unlimited of Erie, PA (1961-1975). This is an oversized rigmate pair measuring approximately 22" in length. OOS |
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Beautifful little green-winged teal hen by Stan Bennett of Rio Vista, California. This example is stamped and signed by the maker as well as dated 1973. Solid carved redwood and measuring approximately 9" in length. IS |
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Wonderful little snuggle head green-winged teal drake by Stan Bennett of Rio Vista, California. This example is stamped and signed by the maker. Solid carved redwood measuring approximately 9" in length. IS |
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Beautifful little blue-winged teal hen by Stan Bennett of Rio Vista, California. This example is stamped and signed by the maker. Solid carved redwood and measuring just over 9.5" in length. IS |
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Bill Goenne
Cinnamon Teal |
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Solid carved cinnamon teal drake by the talented Bill Goenne (King City, CA). Bill is documented in Decoys, Sixty Living and Outstanding North American Carvers by Loy Harrell Jr. This example is a full bodied, stick up model in outstanding original paint. Measures 18" in length. It is pictured without the stand which I'll include. OOS |
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Scott Company
Pintail Drake |
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Nice example of a pintail drake by the Scott Cork Decoy Company of Oakland, CA c 1940. Good overall paint and condition. OOS |
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Robust, solid carved redwood, canvasback drake by a San Francisco Bay maker unknown to me. Similar in style to the work of Tom Dailey. I'd estimate this example to be ca. 1920s. One glass eye is missing. Likely a mix of original and in-use repaint. IS |
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Full-sized, 17.5", jewelry box mallard drake by Charles Pice (Astoria, OR) ca. 1930. This is an old working decoy that Pice transformed into a jewelry box upon decoy retirement. It appears Pice repainted most of the decoy at that time. The head may be original. A great piece of Astoria folk art by a very collectable maker. IS |
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Worn and all original paint mallard drake from the Mason Decoy Company of Detroit, MI, ca. 1900. This is a standard grade tacky-eye model that either the factory inserted glass eyes into a tack-eye body or the head is from a different Mason, which doesn't appear to be the case. OOS |
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Unknown Maker
Pintail Hen |
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Solid carved San Francisco bay pintail hen in outstanding working repaint. Measures 15" in length. I'd estimate this decoy to be ca. 1920s. IS |
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Joe Cerruti
Pintail Drake |
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Joe Cerruti (San Francisco, CA) pintail drake, ca. 1935, in old in-use repaint. Cerruti carved stylish pintails utilizing clear redwood ties. See page 341 of Wildfowl Decoys of California by Michael Miller for additional information on this important California maker. IS |
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Excellent original paint standard grade, glass eye mallard drake from the Mason decoy company (Detroit, MI) ca. 1890. OOS |
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Stylish, hollow carved, pintail pair by Lisa Byrd of Saxis, Virginia. This are signed and dated 2010 and are branded "5th Day Decoys". The drake measures 19.5" in length. OOS |
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George Soule
Bluebill Drake |
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Hollow carved bluebill drake by George Soule of Freeport Maine. Signed and dated 1974. Measures 14.5" in length. OOS |
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Unknown Maker
Pintail Drake |
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Solid carved pintail drake by an unknown Astoria, OR maker. Paint is good and all original. There is wear to the bill tip and several what appear to be hatchet marks. Measures 17.5" in length. OOS |
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Charles Bergman
Pintail Hen |
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A very rare hollow carved pintail hen by Charles Bergman (Astoria, OR), ca. 1930s. Paint on the head, back and neck is very good and all original. There appears to be remnanats of a very old second of paint on the bottom white areas. Additional photos are available upon request. IS |
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Frank Garatti
Pintail Drake |
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Solid carved pintail drake by Frank Garatti (San Rafael, CA), ca. 1951. Repainted by Garatti in 1981 and signed on the bottom. Exquisite paint by Garatti. See pages 147-149 of Wildfowl Decoys of California. OOS |
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Mason Co.
Premier Pintail |
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Mason premier pintail drake in nicely restored paint. Decoy is ca. 1900. Likely started life as a pintail hen. OOS |
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Hollow carved premier grade redhead drake by the Mason Company (Detroit, MI), ca. 1910. Nice paint restoration in the Mason style by Don Sunderland in 1992. IS |
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Excellent and original mallard pair by Harry Cook (Vallejo, CA). COOK branded in the bottoms. Each measures approximately 15" in length. See pages 188-192 of Wildfowl Decoys of California by Michael Miller. Hollow carved and beautifully applied paint. IS |
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Excellent and original wigeon drake by Harry Cook (Vallejo, CA), ca. 70s. COOK branded in the bottoms. See pages 188-192 of Wildfowl Decoys of California by Michael Miller. IS |
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Excellent and original common goldeneye drake by Harry Cook (Vallejo, CA), ca. 70s. COOK branded in the bottoms. See pages 188-192 of Wildfowl Decoys of California by Michael Miller. IS |
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Mason Decoy Co. (Detroit, MI) premier grade mallard drake, ca. 1910 in worn but all original paint. Check in the back as shown in the picture. OOS |
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Standard grade, glass-eye model bluebill pair by the Mason Company (Detroit, MI). Original paint. Split on the back of the drake. OOS |
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Wildfowler Co.
Eider Pair |
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Exceedingly rare rigmate pair of common eiders from the Old Saybrook, CT factory of the Wildfowler Decoy Company, c. 1940s. There's only a handful of these known to exist. Excellent all original paint and condition. Oversize, Atlantic Coast model. Balsa bodies with nicely carved and painted pine heads. See the cover and page 41 of Wildfowler Decoys by Cowan and LaFountain for similar examples. IS |
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Mostly good original paint on the standard grade glass-eye model mallard hen from the Mason Decoy Company of Detroit, MI, ca. 1915. The white on the speculums and tail are repaint. The neck filler is replace. The rest of the decoy is good and original. An excellent candidate for a small amount of restoration. OOS |
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Wildfowler Co.
Redhead Hen |
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All original balsa model redhead hen from the Wildfowler Decoy Company (Old Saybrook, CT). The keel has been removed. OOS |
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Stevens Co.
Bluebill Drake |
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Hollow, round bottomed model, bluebill drake from the H.A. Stevens Company of Weedsport, NY, ca. 1890. Paint is original and worn. It appears an over paint on the majority of the decoy has been removed. Nice stylish design from a rare and early factory. Measures 14.5" in length. OOS |
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Evans Company
Bluebill Pair |
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Bluebill pair by the Evans Decoy Company (Ladysmith, WI), ca. 1930. Old repaint, Evans stamp still visible on the drake. It's likely the drake started life as a canvasback and has been repainted to a bluebill. OOS |
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Unknown Maker
Mallard Hen |
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Paint is good and original on this solid carved mallard hen by an unknown Astoria, OR maker. A drake by the same maker is pictured on page 9 of Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Michael Miller. OOS |
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Richard Huson
Mallard Pair |
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The nicest pair of Richard Huson (Molalla, OR) mallard I've offered. Solid carved rigmate pair in all original and lightly used condition. These great Oregon decoys are circa 1920s. Each retain a strong "Decoys by Huson" stamp on the bottom. OOS |
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Mason Co. (Detroit, MI), standard grade glass-eye common merganser (rare species). Paint is a mix of original and old repaint. ca. 1910. OOS |
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Joe Freitas
Canvasback Pair |
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Beautiful solid carved redwood canvasback pair by Joe "Puggy" Freitas of Rio Vista, CA. OOS |
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Great little (12" in length) solid carved green-winged teal hen from the Astoria, OR area. The collectors tag indicates "Sturi Rig" and Brownsport. The bottom of the bill is chipped. Paint is excellent and original. IS |
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Charles Bergman
Mallard Drake |
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A relic hollow carved mallard hen by Charles Bergman of Astoria, OR. A real war horse. Looks great on the shelf. IS |
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Charles Bergman
Pintail Drake |
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An Astoria, Oregon war horse by Charles Bergman. Paint is worn but original. Bill and tail damage justify repair. An honest decoy by arguably the most collectable of the Oregon makers. |
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Excellent and all original hollow (grand prix model) mallard hen from the Gundelfinger Wood Products Company of Jefferson City & St. Louis, Missouri, ca. 1920s. Tail chip, wear to the tail edges and top of head. Loose weight inside the body. IS |
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Hollow carved mallard drake by Frank Bay (Astoria, OR) ca. 1920s. The body paint is good and original with nicely detailed feathering. The head is a later repaint. See pages 71-74 of Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast by Miller and Hanson. Measures 16.5" in length. OOS |
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Unknown Maker
Canvasback & Pintail Drakes |
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A pair of seriously folksy, high-head decoys (pintail drake and canvasback drake) by a Pacific Northwest maker unknown to me. Recently discovered in an Oregon estate. These look very cool on the shelf. OOS |
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Exceedingly rare standard grade glass-eye model green-winged teal drake by the Mason Decoy Company of Detroit, MI, c 1910. Paint is worn but 100% original. Measures 12.5" in length. OOS |
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Mason Decoy Co. (Detroit, MI), standard grade glass-eye mallard drake in great all original paint. ca. 1905. OOS |
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Mason Co.
Broadbill Drake |
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Paint is excellent and all original on this Mason Decoy Company, standard grade, glass-eye model broadbill drake, ca. 1910. The neck putty appears to have been replaced. This example retains the original Mason egg shaped weight. OOS |
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Stylish canvasback drake by a maker unknown to me. Recently discovered in an Oregon estate. OOS |
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Unknown Maker
Mallard Drake |
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Solid carved mallard drake attributed to an unknown Eureka, CA maker and dated to 1923. I suspect there to be a second coat of paint by the maker. Measures 16.5" in length. IS |
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Madison Mitchell
Canada Goose |
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Excellent and all original Canada goose engraved in electro-pen on the bottom "R. Madison Mitchell Havre de Grace, Md, 1958". Measures 25.5" in length. OOS |
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Solid carved pintail hen by the Custom Bilt Decoy Company of San Diego, CA ca. 1940s. This decoy underwent wonderful paint restoration by Custom Bilt owner/artist, David Hagerbaumer, in 1981 as indicated on the underside. Constructed of hollow carved redwood. Retains the "Custom Bilt" stamps on the underside. Small tail chip. Measures 16" in length. OOS |
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Tom Martindale
Bluebill Drake |
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Solid carved bluebill drake by Tom Martindale (Ontario, Canada). Branded "TM" and signed by the maker. OOS |
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Mason Decoy Company (Detroit, MI) canvasback hen in very attractive old working repaint. This appears to be a standard grade class eye model. However the bill carving is consistent with a challenge grade model. The carving could have been added or a challenge head has been placed on a standard grade body. OOS |
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Standard grade, glass-eye model canvasback drake from the Mason Decoy Company of Detroit, MI ca. 1910. This example is in a mix of original and old working repaint. Branded on the bottom with a large "S". |
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Stunning green-winged teal hen by Stan Bennett (Rio Vista, CA). Stamped and signed by the maker. Measures 9" in length. The tip of the raised wing is broken. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a bit of wood working expertise. IS |
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Richard Shepard
Mallard Pair |
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Excellent and all original hollow carved mallard pair ca. 1938 by Richard Shepard (Pekin, IL). See Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois, Parmalee and Loomis pp. 375-376. This maker only made about 400 decoys. Rare opportunity for a great pair of mallards by this collectable IL maker. OOS |
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Mason Decoy Co. (Detroit, MI) premier grade mallard hen in old working repaint. ca. 1910. IS |
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Oversized cork goldeneye drake by George Soule and the L.L Bean Company of Freeport, Maine. Measures 17" in length. Excellent all original paint. Unused condition. OOS |
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Nicely executed green-winged teal drake by Stan Bennett (Rio Vista, CA). Excellent all original condition. Signed by the maker on the bottom. Measures 10" in length. OOS |
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Harvey Stevens
Wigeon Drake |
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Very rare wigeon drake by the Stevens Company (Harvey Stevens) of Weedsport, NY, ca. 1890's. There's a fair amount of original paint on this example. It appears the speculums and some paint on the head are later repaint. Measures 14" in length. See page 69 of The Essential Guide to Stevens Decoys by Shane Newell. OOS |
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Oversized (19" in length), hollow carved and stylized goldeneye drake by the Humboldt Bay legend, Bill Pinches (Arcata, CA). Signed and dated 8/82. Bill's artistic ability to capture the essence of the species is evidenced in this example. IS |
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Richard Huson
Pintail Pair |
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The nicest pair of Richard Huson (Molalla, OR) pintail I've offered. The drake is solid carved and the hen is a rare hollow model. The hen is in all original and lightly used condition. She retains the "Decoys by Huson" stamp. The drake appears to never have been rigged or used. The head is turned and there is a light coat of varnish. There are remnants of newspaper on the bottom (used in shipping). These great Oregon decoys are circa 1920s. OOS |
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Mason Co.
Premier Mallard |
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Excellent original paint on this hollow carved Mason Decoy Company (Detroit, MI), premier grade mallard drake. This is the nicest Mason mallard I've offered. Early model ca. 1900. A black light assesment shows a small tail chip repair. Purchased from the leading Mason dealer in 1996. Small dent on the right side of the bill. Measures 17" in length. OOS |
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