Outstanding Set of Four Ice Fishing Decoys – circa 1910-20

This is a group of four original ice fishing decoys which were all made by the same unknown carver of very considerable talent.  They are a graduated set in size and include three perch decoys and one trout decoy.  Obtained from the collection of David Fannon of Dogue, Virginia, who had purchased them from Robert Burger of Mount Vernon, Ohio, a well known dealer of sporting art.  They were originally discovered in Southeast Michigan near the Toledo, Ohio border.  All are in original as discovered condition with the original paint and some minor in use chips, a couple of missing fins and an in storage mouse chew.  Stylewise they are similar to the ice fishing decoys of the Chautauqua Lake region of New York State, and may have been made by a spear fisherman who relocated to the MI/OH area from NY.  Worthy of some professional restoration if the new owner so chooses.  From my own personal collection where I had chosen to keep them just as they were originally discovered.  The set will not be broken up.

Sizes are  6 7/8″ – 5 5/8″ L – 5 7/8″L – 3 3/4″ in length

Personal Collection     –     HHDD

Early and Excellent New England Yellowlegs Shorebird Decoy – c 1910

Here is an extra fine New England Yellowlegs shorebird decoy in truly exceptional condition, with wonderful paint and a beautiful soft look and feel to its surface.  This decoy was originally discovered with the remains of a broken stake stuck flush with the hole in the bottom og the decoy.  It appears that this may have been the reason that this decoy is in such fine condition, as it was apparantly set aside after only some minor use to get the broken stake removed, and must then been just forgotten and left by the hunter.

 The stake has now been removed and the bird is ready to display on your mantle as part of your collection.  Accomplished with painted black eyes this decoy retains 100% of its original paint and bill.

Size is 11 ” long  x  2 3/4″ thick body

A1454H     –     MHDO

Fossilized Ivory Fish Lure – Alaskan Eskimo – 19th century

Large Eskimo fish Lure of fossilized ivory with incised details and filled with ink in the insizing.  This was collected by Gilbert W. Dilley (1902-1996) of Akron, Ohio.  Dilley was an amateur archaeologist and in 1926 purchased a portion of Edward E. Ayer’s (1847-1927) American Indian Art collection.  This example is possibly from that collection.  A very fine example of this type of very early native Alaskan Eskimo lure .

Size is 4 5/8″ L

A1285H     –     ODD

Extremely Early Ruddy Duck Decoy – circa 1870′s

The reason one sees so many contemporary examples of Ruddy Duck decoys within the marketplace  is that old Ruddy Ducks carved for hunting use had a tendency to be very folky in form.  Since they also tend to be very early, they seem to disappear from the marketplace as soon as they newly emerge from an old collection or a barn.

This is an honest, folky and extremely early example of such a ruddy duck, with square nail holes remaining in the bottom from where weights were once attached, and a square nail remains where the front leather loop anchor tie was once attached.  It dates to the 1870′s and is probably from one of the southern states, as most of these early ruddy duck decoys seem to originate from there.  If this was an example by one of the  known early ruddy duck carvers, such as Alvirah Wright, it would be worth in the neighborhood of $20,0000+.

While by an unknown, this example is just as nice and has a high head, unmistakable cheek patch, painted eyes, carved back with humped folded wings and exceptional paint for such an early bird.  It exhibits a mixture of in use hunter touchup to the black and white painted areas, with the original first coat showing in many spots.  A small old chip is missing out of the top left of the head, and there are some minor dog chew marks on both sides of the top of the head, all of which can be easily restored and probably should be.

A rare chance to own a very early, honest, and very good working Ruddy Duck Decoy.  Size is 13″ L x 7 ” H x 4 1/2″ W.

A1253H     –     MOHL

Niagara Falls, New York – Bluebill Drake Decoy - Early 20th century

Decoys of this unique carving style were apparantly carved by a hunter for his own personal use in Niagara Falls, New York.  All decoys of this type  which have been uncovered to date have been found either in Niagara Falls or very close to it, indicatingthat  the carver did not also have a business of selling decoys.   These uniquely styled birds all share the same shape to the body, the exact same carving to their bills and head, and the placement of the eyes which almost give every one of them a cartoonish presentation.  They have been found in several different species, and of those, most have either been worn to nearly bare wood or exhibit significant drying splits in their solid bodies.  Of the few that have been found in excellent condition, such as this one, have sold for up to $4,000 each.  Coming from my personal collection, this is an opportunity to own an exceptional example by this carver at a really excellent price for one of these rare folky carvings.

Size is 13 1/4″ L x 6 3/8″ W x 7″ H

A2241H     –     MEDD

Pair of Clare Londrigan Mallard Decoys – Circa Early 1980′s

This is an exceptional and early pair of Mallard decoys retaining their keels, made by Clare Londrigan of Michigan.  This pair was obtained from an avid collector of Londrigan decoys who  sold his entire collection due to personal health issues.  He held onto this pair for last, as he considered this pair of mallards the best decoys Clare Londrigan had ever carved.   They appear to have never been actually used for hunting.  Clare Londrigan had worked for General Motors in Michigan, retiring early for health reasons.  He was an avid duck hunter and decoy carver, making decoys for himself as well as other hunters.  His decoys are carved in the style of the Michigan school of carving, have large football shaped bodies, and are boldly branded with “Clare” on the underside.  Head of the drake is turned to the left and the head of the hen to the right.  Great pair of early Clare Londrigan decoys!

Size of each decoy is 17 1/4″ L  x  7 1/4″ W  x  6 3/4″ H  (excluding keels)

A2237H     –     FDD

Pair of Clare Londrigan Bluebill Decoys – Circa Late 1980′s

An excellent and early pair of Clare Londrigan Bluebill decoys dating to the late 1980′s.  The heads on this pair are exceptionally well carved with very full cheeks and very stylish curves to the bills.  I believe this pair exhibits the best head and bill carving style of any of his decoys which I have seen.  These were originally purchased directly from the carver and came out of his own hunting rig in the late 1980′s.   Clare Londrigan had worked for General Motors in Michigan, retiring early for health reasons.  He was an avid duck hunter and decoy carver, making decoys for himself as well as other hunters.  His decoys are carved in the style of the Michigan school of carving, have large football shaped bodies, and are boldly branded with “Clare” on the underside.  The head of this Bluebill drake is positioned straight ahead while the head of the hen is turned to the right.  Condition is excellent save for a tight age check on the back of the drake.

Size of each decoy is 14 1/2″ L  x  7 1/4″ W  x  5 7/8″ H

A2238H     –     MDD

English Wood Pigeon Decoy – circa 1930′s

A nicely executed carved English Wood Pigeon decoy in original paint that dates to the 1930″s and is from my personal collection of wood pigeon decoys.  Bill is made of a lead casting.  The wild English Wood Pigeon is avidly hunted in England as they damage crops there by eating the farmer’s planted seeds from fields, just like our crows do here within the USA.  In England, unlike the USA, it is legal for sport hunters to sell their shot wild game to restaurants, so if you have ever seen “pidgeon breasts ” as an entre item in England this is the bird that it came from.  While a living can’t be made from shooting wood pigeons in England, sport hunters there tell me that the money they get from the restaurants for the pigeons pays for the shells they use, so their hobby is a little less costly.   

Size: Length of decoy is 14 1/4″.  Height on stand is 9 3/8″.  The stand included with the decoy.

A2226D     –     RDD

Exceptional Bluebill Hen – circa 1930′s

Here is an early, plump and exceptionally carved and painted Bluebill Hen Decoy from either Illinois or Indiana.  It is circa 1930′s by an as yet unknown maker, and was purchased at the annual mid-west Guyette & Schmidt Decoy Auction in St. Charles Illinois in April of 2007.

The decoy exhibits a very full body, pinched breast, slightly turned head, ice groove carved behind the neck, and a body that was slightly hollowed from underneath and then covered with a circular wooden plug.

This decoy is in beautiful original paint with a fine patina and includes great feather brush strokes on the sides.  This is an extremely nice example of a Bluebill Hen Decoy by an unknown mid-west carver.

Size is 11 3/4″ L x 5 3/4″ H x 5 1/4″ W.

A827H     –     OFDD