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Superb
"PREMIER MASON" style Gadwall by Cameron McIntyre. Circa
2008. Excellent all original aged paint & condition. The paint style,
aging, and patina on this bird is incredible. Stylish, sleek & very
well done carving that would be worth 250K+ if it was really a 100 year
old Mason decoy. Measures approx 16 1/2 inches long. Hollow body carving with a great head carving style.
Paint has been aged proper with an incredible soft patina & great thick swirls in the paint in the same style as the best made Masons. Carved "CTM" signature in bottom, and has "PREMIER" painted on bottom. Has glass eyes. More pics avail.
Cameron said this was the only one of these he ever made, he has made a few different species in this Mason style & all are a killer, see the great Mason style Widgeon drake on this page, but this is only Gadwall. Here is a
nice rare decoy for the money, as Cameron's work is nearly impossible
to get & he never multi produces any of his works. Excellent bird here for the collector of Mason decoys
or of Cameron's finest works. I am constantly amazed at the talent that Cameron
exibits in his work, and this bird is one of the finest carvings I I have
ever seen, new or old done by anyone. You will be more then happy with
this one & if you saw what his birds sold for at G&S April 2007
decoy auction you will appreciate the deal on this beauty.
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Outstanding & very scarce drake Widgeon decoy by J. Corb Reed (1897-1982), Chincoteague Island, VA.
Signed & dated 1978. Excellent all original paint &
condition.The colors on the feathers are very detailed & accurate. Nice slightly raised wings with great head, tail and feather carving. Bird is carved
in swimming pose with straight forward head & glass eyes. Measures approx
17 1/4 inches long. Signed & dated in red ink. Only fault is where the raised wingtips broke in 3 small pieces when shipped, they have been glued back on & are hard to detect where break occured. Corb Reed started carving around 1912, he was well known
for his decoys and flatwork art of marsh & wildfowl. He painted many wall murals in the government buildings in Washington D.C. This is as fine
a Corb Reed decoy as you will ever find, the feather painting is unreal, his work is very hard to find & buy these days. The decoys by Corb Reed are the most underated & undervalued decoys to come off of Chincoteague Island. More pics of this beauty available but pics just dont do it justice. $2350 |
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Superb,
early & very clean Brant decoy by Ira Hudson (1876-1949), Chincoteague
Island, VA. Circa 1910-35. Superb dry, clean
all original paint with very little wear for the age. Very nice feathering on the sides of this beauty. A few thin age lines in body & slightly wider one in bottom as expected with solid body Hudson's because of his use of heartwood. No repairs or touch ups of any
kind. Measures approx 17 1/2 inches & is solid body, probably cedar. A desirable & early classic Hudson, with a
great style and form. Has tack eyes. Retains the original
line tie, weight has been removed. Outstanding & classic Ira paint style & as good
as you can expect to find on a bird of this vintage. Great bird & as clean
and honest as you will find a Hudson, very cool bird that will surely
please. More pics avail. A outstanding classic Ira Hudson Brant example for any collection. $6000. |
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Outstanding,
clean & early matched Redhead pair by R. Madison Mitchell (1901-1993),
Harve de Grace, MD. Signed & dated 1954. Excellent all original paint
thats very strong & clean. Great paint on this pair, lots of nice feathering.
Measure approx 14 3/4 inches long each. Both retain original weights &
staple/ring line ties. Conditon is just about perfect, with no gunning
wear, I dont think these were ever used & should please even the most
demanding of condition collectors. More pics avail. You have seen the
Mitchell market soar this past year & this being a matched pair of this
vintage & quality puts them in a class all thier own, early Mitchells
have brought 5 figuires at Guyette and Schmidt April 2004 sale. A superb
54 year old matched pair by the dean of Upper Chesapeake Bay makers, wont
find them nicer & cleaner then this at any price. Priced to sell,
you just don't find Mitchells this early & in this condition anymore,
very good buy on this fine pair & a solid investment. |
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Very early Ruddy Duck decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa 1972-74. Excellent
all original aged paint, with some intentional wear by Mark. Great style solid
carved body that measures approx 9 3/4 inches long. Has great form with nice carving & one of the
neatest style Ruddy Duck decoy styles I have seen by Mark, head is set on a very slight shelf. This bird has Mark's carved "MSM", it is how he signed his work in the late 1972-74 era. Weight & line tie removed or never put on? Mark McNair decoys have become very hard to find & harder to buy, the prices have soared in the last 2 years. Impossible to find decoys by McNair of this vintage & with talk of a McNair
book in the works its a good time to be buying some of his work to add
to your collection while it is avail. More pics avail. of this
cool McNair Ruddy Duck decoy & sure to please, rare opportunity to get an example this early by McNair. $2250 |
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Superb,
early & bone dry drake Bluebill by Ira Hudson (1876-1949), Chincoteague
Island, VA. Circa 1905-25. This bird is from the "SMITH ISLAND GUN
CLUB" rig, on the Eastern Shore of VA. Superb bone dry, clean
all original paint with very little wear for the age, most body wear is
honest hunting/storage wear with a couple of shot scars as shown. Hudson
missed his mark when he put the head nail in & it came out thru the
neck (I bet he didn't miss too many out of the thousands he made), but
never one to waste anything he puttied & painted, with age the putty
shrunk & fell out leaving the bare spot you see on front of neck &
probably the cause of the thin but secure neck crack. The tight grain
of the wood Hudson used on his heads is so cool, I have seen it on his
better model birds & am amazed he found wood with such a tight grain
as far south as he was in VA, I believe he saved the tight grain stuff
for his heads on the better early models. No repairs or touch ups of any
kind. Measures approx 14 inches. This is a deep carved solid body style,
with what appears to be extra fancy painting, swirls go all the way around
the body, even onto the belly area. A desirable & early Hudson, with a
great head style with nicely carved bill. Has tack eyes. Retains the original
weight & line tie. Outstanding & classic Ira paint style & as good
as you can expect to find on a bird of this vintage. Great bird & as clean
and honest as you will find a Hudson, very cool bird that will surely
please. More pics avail. A outstanding Ira Hudson example for any collection. $6000. |
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Excellent & early "Roman Nose" model drake Canvasback by Charlie Joiner (Born 1921), Chestertown,
MD. Signed & dated 1950. Excellent all original paint, with very clean & dry finish, great paint
job on this beauty. Full size with painted eyes, measures
approx 16 inches with original weight & line tie. Slight gunning wear with six slight shot scars. Charlie's early "Roman Nose" Canvasbacks the most sought after model. Great example here & sure to please any collector
looking for early examples in excellent original condition by Joiner for their collection.
More pics avail. |
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Stunning full size lifted wing preening Yellowlegs by Eddie Wozny, Cambridge, Maryland. Circa 2004. Signed & dated in ink & carved "W" in bottom. Very nice piece that is life size. Paint is all original & very rich in color. Glass eyes & measures approx 9 1/2 inches long & approx 12 inches tall wing tip measurement. Nice lifelike colors & very detailed carving. The curvature of the wing in this carving will amaze you. Eddie is one of the best carvers out there, & his work will rival anything being made. He is quick to sell out at any of the shows he does & his carvings are rarely offered for resale. Good piece here, its sure to please. More pics avail. |
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Excellent & very early model hen Canvasback by Charlie Joiner (Born 1921), Chestertown,
MD. Signed & dated 1952. Excellent all original paint, with very clean & dry finish, great paint
job on this pretty girl, Charlie is the master at paint & it really shows on
this early hen. Full size with painted eyes, measures
approx 16 inches with original weight & line tie, also has metal "dog tag" that I'ds it as ex-collection of Roger Mengal of Rock Hall. Slight gunning wear with the great color that made Charlie's early hen Canvasbacks the most sought after model. Great example here & sure to please any collector
looking for early examples in excellent original condition by Joiner for their collection.
More pics avail. |
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Outstanding long & sleek Red-Breasted Merganser by Reggie Birch,
Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa approx 5-10 years old. Carved signature by Reggie.
Excellent all original aged paint & condition, it looks at least 100 years
old. Measures an impressive 21 1/2 inches, this boy is
long & stylish! Very well done hollow carved body with a nicely carved head pegged into body with carved wooden dowells. Carved eyes with aged lead pad weight & staple/ring line tie.
Reggie has a great eye & talent for old & great style decoys &
it shows in his outstanding work. I am amazed at Reggie's talent &
his Mergansers are hard to beat. Great bird here & a unique style
by Reggie. $950 |
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Rare
and early drake Canvasback by James "Jim" Holly (1855-1935), Harve de
Grace, MD. Circa 1890-1920. Strong all original paint & condition,
which is so very rare to find on Upper Chesapeake Bay decoys of this vintage.
Paint is very clean & strong with good paint patterns does show some
honest wear from hunting use & age. Solid body measures approx 15
1/4 inches, and has thin age line around neck but is secure as shown with
more pics available. Retains original line tie & weight & has "JB" carved into bottom. Truly a clean & historic Susquehanna Flats decoy,
this is the quality everyone wants, but seldom finds. Good strong, classic
decoy here. (Consignment piece) $3000 |
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Outstanding "Shooting Stool' drake Bluebill by the Ward Brothers, Crisfield,
MD. Perfect clean, dry & thick all original paint & condition.
Signed & dated 1972 by both Lem & Steve Ward. Paint is about perfect with only slight shrinkage at wing tip area, which is pretty common on decorative model Ward decoys 1950's thru 70's. Solid carved body with turned head &
measures approx 14 1/3 inches long. Condition is just about perfect, the nice thick dry paint & style make this as nice as you will ever find
on one of these popular "Shooting Stool" models. Very clean & nicely done style for that era. The price
of good Wards are soaring fast. This is a strong example for any
collector looking to add a classic Ward & that demand near perfect
examples & investment quality decoys. Extra pics available, you will be
very pleased with this beauty. |
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Fantastic pair of high head Canvasback wing duck decoys by Cameron McIntyre. Circa
2008. Excellent all original aged paint & condition. The paint style,
aging, and patina on this pair is incredible. Stylish, sleek & very
well done pair of carvings done in a style mix of the greatest classic upper Chesapeake Bay makers. Measure approx 17+ inches long. Solid body carving done in the manner of the classic wing duck decoys that would be attached to the gunner's sinkbox.
Paint has been aged proper with an incredible soft patina. Carved "CTM" signature in bottoms. Has carved eyes. More pics avail.
Cameron's work is nearly impossible
to get & this pair is a killer. I am constantly amazed at the talent that Cameron
exibits in his work, and this pair is sure to please. if you saw what his birds sold for at G&S April 2007
decoy auction you will appreciate the deal on these beauties.
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Very rare & early gunning Seagull by Lloyd Tyler (1898-1970), Crisfield, MD. Circa 1930-50. Paint is all original & very strong & clean, has some honest loss of paint from age & gunning wear, including most of the yellow bill paint. No repairs or touch ups. Good age on this rare species gunning bird with a nice patina. Deep carved eyes and a nice raised wing carving with raised wing tips, one is blunted/worn the other has some missing area of the wing tip. Weight & line tie removed. Solid body measures approx 18 inches long & is Tylers best style with long narrow body. Found here on the Eastern Shore & from a well known Virginia collection. Real Seagull decoys that were actually used to hunt with are very rare. Some were made before & around the turn of the century for the feather trade for womens hats, but that was mostly a northern habit or business. When found in this area it was for use as a "confidence bird' for gunning weary ducks. The blues and grays used in the nice paint style on this bird make it a great piece of wildfowling folk art. Lloyd Tyler made a great looking decoy & has become well known as a great Folk artist thanks to Henry Stansbury's outstanding book on Lloyd Tyler's decoys & artwork. His decoys have brought the respect of collectors as evidenced by the sale of his Hooded Merganser in the 6 figure range at the Guyette and Schmidt decoy sale in November 07. This pretty girl looks much better then my pics can show, email for more pics if interested. $3600 |
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Superb
& scarce drake Pintail decoy by Charlie Joiner (Born 1921), Chestertown,
MD. Signed &circa 1970-80's . Excellent all original paint, with dry & clean
finish, the paint work is extra nice. A hard to find species
by Joiner. Full size with glass eyes, measures approx 19 inches
long & has a slightly turned head. Retains original keel. This really is a tuff
species to find by Charlie especially a single of this vintage. Pintails by Joiner are a collector favorite & seldom get to resale market.
More pics avail. Great example here & priced to sell. |
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Rare, stylish & very unique hollow "Fan Tail" Canada Goose by Lem Ward (1896-1984), and Steve Ward (1895-1976), Crisfield, Maryland. Circa 1932-36. Signed & dated 1936, possibly done in 1932. Very good all original paint & condition with no repairs or touch ups. Very unique style & rig mate to the one on page 111 in Ron Gard & Brian McGrath's excellent book "The Ward Brother's Decoys, A Collectors Guide". Big & stylish it measures approx 24 1/4 inches. These beauties were hollow carved & hollowing was done thru the top of the back. Has a nice turned head & very unusual in that it has no eyes. No neck cracks!! Retains original keel & weight. This is a neat style & one of the better ones I have seen from this one time made rig. The price of good Wards
are soaring fast at both the auctions & private sales & rarely
do Ward decoys of this vintage & quality turn up for resale at any price, especially
a Goose. This is a outstanding decoy for any collector looking to add
a early classic Ward Goose & looking for the rarer styles. More pics avail. $15,000 |
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Excellent undersize Canvasback pair by James "Jim" Currier (1886-1971), Have de Grace, MD.. Circa 1950s. Excellent original condition & paint that is bone dry, clean & strong. Measure approx 12 inches long each. Outstanding paint patterns on both with good carving style. You dont see a lot of these smaller size birds by Currier & this is the finest of what I have seen, so well matched & the painting is a knock out. Currier was the Post Master at the old Harve de Grace Post Office & he lived where the Harve de Grace Decoy Museum is. His decoys were all hand chopped, not lathe turned like so many of the area which results in a much smaller output & harder to find. His early "Roman Nose" Canvasbacks made in the 20's & 30's are killers & highly sought by all Chesapeake Bay decoy collectors. Great pair here for the collector looking for superb mantel examples by a classic maker. More pics avail. |
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Early
& extra nice Tack eye model Mason drake Mallard decoy, Detroit, Mich.
Circa 1905-15. Rare to find early slope breasted model. Paint is very
strong, thick, clean & all original with the exception of neck filler
& in-the-making wood check refill, both professionally done by Ken
DeLong. Measures approx 16 inches. More pics available. Outstanding color
on this one & lots of nice thick colorful paint that Mason decoys are
famous for. Mason decoys continue to be a solid investment & prices for
quality examples seem to have no limit these days. Very clean & a nice
strong addition to any Mason decoy collection, especially tuff to find
a early slope breasted tack-eye model this nice. $850 |
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Nice
early Brant decoy by Roland "ROLLY" Nathaniel Horner (1882-1942), West Creek, NJ. with probable collaboration of Chris Sprague (1887-1982), Beach Haven, NJ. Circa
1920-30s. Very clean & very early 2nd coat of gunning paint. Good brush work on the sides, one very small spot of bare wood on backside of head as shown in photo above. Condition is very good plus with
no cracks or checks except small section on bottom of bill that looks like it splintered & was glued back into place, but doent distract. Beautiful classic body style which has a slightly forward head, seams are tight with slight paint crack on seam edges.
Hollow carved body measures
approx 17 1/2 inches long. Retains
original weight & leather line tie. Neat old honest hunting decoy for any
collector looking to add a classic New Jersey Brant decoy to a collection.
I am no expert on NJ decoys so pardon the confusion in maker write up. This bird was purchased in the Mackey sale & was always thought to be by Horner & in all original paint. I ask several NJ collectors, whose opinions I value greatly & got several different thoughts on if the bird was all Horner or a collaboration, I believe it is a collaboration for what its worth, I will let the next owner decide. I have lots of nice pics to help you decide, email for more.You wont be disappointed with this one for the money & first time offered since the Mackey sale. |
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Superb & early A.E. Crowell (1862-1952), miniature standing drake Mallard carving. East Harwich, Mass. Circa 1900-20s. Excellent all original paint & condition, with no faults. Paint blending & colors on this bird are superb! Bottom is stamped "A.E. Crowell Maker, East Harwichport, Mass." & appears to be Crowell's handwriting on bottom also. Approx 5 inches long & 3 1/2 inches high. More pics avail. Very nice mini & somewhat tuff to find species. These have soared in value over the last couple of years & are a solid investment and a joy to own. More pics avail. $3350 |
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Superb
"PREMIER MASON" style drake Widgeon by Cameron McIntyre. Circa
2001. Excellent all original aged paint & condition. The paint style,
aging, and patina on this bird is incredible. Stylish, sleek & very
well done carving that would be worth 250K+ if it was really a 100 year
old Mason decoy. Measures approx 15 inches long. Hollow body carving.
Paint has been aged proper with an incredible soft patina. Carved "CTM" signature in bottom, and has "PREMIER" Flats
Model" painted on bottom. Has glass eyes. More pics avail.
Cameron said this was the only one of these he ever made. Here is a
nice rare decoy for the money, as Cameron's work is nearly impossible
to get. Excellent bird here for the collector of Mason decoys
or of Cameron's work. I am constantly amazed at the talent that Cameron
exibits in his work, and this bird is one of the finest carvings I have
ever seen, new or old done by anyone. You will be more then happy with
this one & if you saw what his birds sold for at G&S April 2007
decoy auction you will appreciate the deal on this beauty. |
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Very scarce Canvasback drake by James Baines (1915-1971), Morgantown, Maryland. Circa 1940. Excellent original condition with light wear and tight neck crack. All original paint with original weight and line tie. Branded “RT” twice on the bottom. Baines made two styles of canvasbacks, this is considered his finest style, with a slightly oversized body, great form and lines and a finely carved head. Measures approx 16 1/2 inches long & approx 7+ inches wide. Baines was a Potomac River guide and sportsman. He made decoys in the late 1930s and 1940s and gunned them on Piccowaxen Creek in Morgantown. Baines decoys are scarce, especially in original paint. See Decoy Magazine July/August 1993. This decoy was exhibited in the artifacts display at the 30th Anniversary Upper Shore Decoy Show in North East, MD. More pics avail. |
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Superb
classic matched pair of Ward Brothers hollow carved "Shooting Stool Bluebills", Crisfield,
MD. Circa 1973. Perfect clean, dry & thick all original paint & condition.
Signed & dated 1973 by both Lem & Steve Ward, also signed a second time by Lem. Very scarce hollow carved bodies with turned heads &
measure approx 14 3/4 inches long each. Condition is just about perfect,
I have seen a few of these over the years but this is the only hollow carved pair I have ever seen. The nice thick dry paint & style make this as nice as you will ever find
a pair of these. Very clean & nicely done style for that era. The price
of good Wards are soaring fast. This is a sweet pair of decoys for any
collector looking to add a matched pair of Wards & that demand near perfect
examples & investment quality decoys. First time offering on these beauties, the man who owned these bought 3 pair of these directly from the Ward Brothers in 1973 & sold the other 2 pairs, this was the best pair & he has kept them for many years. Extra pics available, you will be
very pleased with this pair. |
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Very nice matched Canvasback pair by R. Madison Mitchell (1901-1993),
Harve de Grace, MD. Circa 1950's. Very good plus all original paint
that's very strong, dry & clean. Great
paint on this pair, lots of nice feathering with knock out color &
patina. Measure approx 16 1/4 inches long
each. Both retain original weights & staple/ring line ties. Condition
is very good plus with slight but honest gunning wear & a thin tail chip on hen, drake has hair thin age line thru 1/3 of neck but is tight & to be expected of a honest old gunning decoy of this vintage . More pics
avail. You have seen the Mitchell market soar this past couple of years & this being
a early matched pair of this quality makes them a strong addition to any collection of classic Chesapeake Bay Canvasbacks. Early Mitchell's started bringing 5 figures at Guyette and Schmidt
April 2004 sale. A superb 50+ year old matched pair by the dean of Upper
Chesapeake Bay makers. |
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Superb & fairly scarce Red-Breasted Merganser pair by Oliver Lawson , Crisfield, MD. Signed by Lawson on both birds. Superb all original paint & condition. Paint is excellent and is very sharp, dry, very clean & detailed. Solid bodies measure approx 13 3/4 inches long each & both have slightly turned heads with glass eyes. Lawson learned to make decoys under the guidance of his neighbors, the Ward Brothers. He must not have missed a single lesson as his decoys are superb with the strong influence of the Ward's work. Very hard to get any of Lawson's work these days, and here is a great matched pair of a good collector species in outstanding condition & style. More good pics avail. $1650 pair |
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Very early & fat Ruddy Duck decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa 1972-74. Excellent
all original aged paint, with some intentional wear by Mark. Decoy shows some shine & appears to be a old coat of wax or some type of a finish feeder. May have been applied by Mark because I dont think he was doing the dry craquelure finish that he has mastered in the last several years. Great style solid
carved body that measures approx 9 3/4 inches long. Has great form with nice carving & one of the
neatest style Ruddy Duck decoy styles I have seen by Mark, head is set back to almost the center of the back. This bird has Mark's carved "M", it is how he signed his work in the late 1972-74 era. Mark McNair decoys have become very hard to find & harder to buy, the prices have soared in the last 2 years. Impossible to find decoys by McNair of this vintage & with talk of a McNair
book in the works its a good time to be buying some of his work to add
to your collection while it is avail. More pics avail. of this
cool McNair Ruddy Duck decoy. $1850 |
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Superb
hollow carved Low-Head Pintail pair by Bob White. Signed & dated 2004,
& stamped with Bob's trademark Quail in weight. Outstanding pair of
decoys in mint all original paint & condition, great color & paint detail.
Hollow carved bodies measure approx 16 inches long each. Nice style
with low slightly turned heads with glass eyes, and nice raised wing-tip & tail
carving. Have been weighted & have leather line ties. Bob is a true classic decoy maker and he makes a great
looking bird in the classic Delaware River style. His work is highly sought
after by collectors of both old & contemporary Delaware River decoys. Scarce offering
here for the price, these continue to be very hard to find & buy, steady & very strong auction prices are proof of the desirabillty. More pics avail. (Consignment piece) $3000 |
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Superb Black Duck by Norman Hudson (1901-197?), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1960-70. Excellent all original paint & condition. The paint style, and patina on this bird are superb. Classic Norman Hudson style. Measures approx 17 3/4 inches long. Solid body carving. Has glass eyes & has never been rigged. More pics avail. Here is a nice and very scarce decoy for the money, as Norman Hudson's work is very hard to get. This exact bird is pictured on page 111 of Henry Stansbury's excellent book "IRA D. HUDSON and Family, Chincoteague Carvers". Norman was Ira Hudson's eldest son & was no doubt the maker and or painter of many of what we call the "classic Hudson's" in collections today. Scarce one here & a nice addition to any Black Duck or Chincoteague Island decoy collection. (Consignment piece) $3,900 |
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Rare oversized American Merganser by Roy Conklin (1909-19??),
Alexandria Bay, NY. Circa 1940-50. ex- Harvey Pitt Collection . Excellent all original paint
that's very strong & clean. Great
paint on this scarce beauty, lots of nice feathering with nice color &
patina. Measures approx 19 1/2 inches long. Retains original keel, not shown in cropped pic above. Condition
is about excellent with very slight but honest gunning wear to be expected of a honest old gunning decoy of this vintage. Has very thin neck crack which has been tightened & had a professional removal of glue in that area & touched up there, also a pro restoration of a very small chip off the tip of the underside of the bill. More pics
avail. Conklin was a decoy making student of Chauncey Wheeler, & also a boat captain, guide & carpenter. His decoys rarely show up for resale, especially such a rare species & in such fine condition. Ex collection of the late & very well known Harvey Pitt. A superb example by one of the finest makers of the upstate New York area. |
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Superb hollow carved Wood Duck drake by Cameron McIntyre. Circa 2004. Excellent all original aged paint & condition. The paint style, and patina on this bird is beautiful. Stylish, sleek & very well done carving. Measures approx 15 1/2 inches long. Hollow body carving. Paint has been aged proper with an incredible soft patina. Carved "CTM" signature in bottom. Has carved eyes. More pics avail. Here is a nice scarce model decoy for the money, as Cameron's work is nearly impossible to get. Excellent bird here for the collector of Cameron's work. You will be more then happy with this one & if you saw what his birds sold for at G&S April 2007 decoy auction you will appreciate the deal on this beauty. $3250 |
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Rare
unused Doug Jester (1876-1961) drake Canvasback, Chincoteague Island,
VA. Circa 1935-45. Strong, crisp & clean all original paint & condition,
& has never been rigged to hunt, showing a nice patinia from age. Lots of nice brush work on this one. Shows a few small paint flakes from age/storage otherwise it would be perfect mint.
Nice earlier model with nice neck shelf carving & good throat carving. Nice size bird at approx 14 1/2 inches, cottonwood body & head model
with no checks or cracks. Painted eye model bird with great feather back
painting & swirls, and classic Jester form. Extra pics avail. Nicely
done head & bill that are deeply carved. A classic & very clean Jester
for any Southern or Chincoteague decoy collection. Rare one here, fresh to market and in impossible
to find condition & in the investment quality condition that everyone is seeking. More nice pics avail. |
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Super nice & pretty rare Mallard drake by Caleb Ridgeway Marter (1893-1977), Burlington, NJ. Circa 1930's. Strong all original paint & condition. Paint is excellent, dry,
very clean & detailed, shows some shrinkage mostly on head & wing patches, looks like the green he used separated as it dried. Large hollow carved body measures approx 16 1/2 inches long. Great classic carving style by Marter with lots of nice head, tail & raised wing carving. Retains all the original rigging including Marter's copper trapper id tag, leather line tie & double pad weight. This bird was purchased from Bob White in the 1980's, it was given to him by Al Rietz of Tulleytown, PA who found this bird adrift in the Delaware River. Has notation on bottom by White to record this bird was part of Marter's personal hunting rig. Very nice bird here in good original condition & paint, & a classic example by one of the Delaware River's historic makers. More pics avail. $2950. |
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Outstanding & very early fat Curlew shorebird decoy from the Eastern Shore of VA. Probably Chincoteague Island area. Circa 1890-1920. Paint is all original, very strong, crisp, clean & dry. Great classic Eastern Shore of VA paint style & color on this one, lots of nice brush work. Paint shows minimal wear but has some flaking in belly areas. Bill is original & is splined thru head. Great style on the bill, has cracked but has been secured & is hard to see where it separated, but is all original & not a replacement. Solid body bird with 2 slight wood grain age lines as seen in pics above, probably about the same size separation as when made by looks of paint in that area, so probably made like that with no filler used. Measures approx 12 3/4 inches long, bill is a bit over 3 1/2 inches. Nice round style head with a very nice fat body that has a great feel in hand. As good all original decoys continue to get harder to aquire, shorebirds get even harder to find & this is a great example for any collector that likes shorebirds that are early, clean, all original with great looking folk art appeal. This one is sure to please. More pics available. |
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Early,
scarce & all original high tail model Black Duck by Lem & Steve Ward, Crisfield, MD . Circa 1945-50. Very nice all original paint with moderate wear from gunning, but is clean,
dry & strong. Someone did overpaint the bottom side of bird, probably just to ID owership in a club or larger gunning rig. Wear is honest old hunting wear and it adds nicely to its look. Several areas were white lead filler was used to seal seams & such show separation & loss but this is how most of these old gunning classics aged. Balsa carved body measures approx 17 3/4 inches long, has a great looking
slightly turned head. Head & insert tail are probably cedar or pine. Both glass eyes are original and are intact. Retains
original keel & lead strip keel weight. Classic Ward Brother's Black Duck decoy
for any collector looking to add a choice example to a collection, the high tail models are the most sought after of the balsa gunning models. E-mail
for more pics if interested, very nice bird here & fresh to market from a old collection. A good buy on this classic. Ward's continue to be some of the most sought after decoys & the auction prices show it. (Consignment piece) $2250 |
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Really nice & very small miniature fat Canada Goose by maker unknown to me, appears to have some age, would help date if maker known. Very nice all original condition & paint. Great style of carving & paint. Measures just 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inches including the two tiny nails used to make legs, nice fat carved body. Bird is mounted on what appears to be a piece of walnut that measures 2 X 1 1/2. Nice mini here, wish I knew more about it, it will be sure to please & a nice addition to any collection. More pics avail. |
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Early Red- Breasted Merganser hen by Doug Jester (1876-1961), Chincoteague Island,
VA. Circa 1930-50. Nice old original paint on brown areas, the white is 2nd coat of working repaint , showing a nice patinia from age. Shows a few areas to bare wood from honest old gunning use.
Nice earlier model with nice neck shelf carving, four tine creast & good throat carving. Nice size bird at approx 15 1/4 inches with natural wood flaw on left side, extra pics avail. Jester like other historic makers from Chincoteague never wasted a piece of wood. A early & honest old gunning Merganser by Jester
for any Southern or Chincoteague decoy collection. Jester Merganser's are classics & some of the most sought after of Eastern Shore of Virginia decoys. Getting hard to find. More nice pics avail. SOLD! |
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Superb Mallard drake by Norman Hudson (1901-197?), Chincoteague Island, VA. Signed & dated 1970. Excellent all original paint & condition. The paint style, and patina on this bird are superb. Classic Norman Hudson style. Measures approx 16 1/2 inches long. Solid body carving. Has glass eyes & has never been rigged. More pics avail. Here is a nice and very scarce decoy for the money, as Norman Hudson's work is very hard to get. This exact bird is pictured on page 108 of Henry Stansbury's excellent book "IRA D. HUDSON and Family, Chincoteague Carvers". Norman was Ira Hudson's eldest son & was no doubt the maker and or painter of many of what we call the "classic Hudson's" in collections today. Scarce one here & a nice addition to any Hudson or Chincoteague Island decoy collection. Email for more pics if interested, the pic above doesnt due this beauty justice. |
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Nice old Red-Breasted Merganser hen decoy by Miles Hancock (1887-1974), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1940-50's. A pretty scarce to find hen by Hancock. Full size and measures 15 inches. Very good plus paint with quite a bit of it original, especially the scratch painted areas, other areas show some working touch up by Hancock, probably one of his customers who brought his rig in for a "freshin up" before the season. Shows some honest gunning wear, bill was broken into face but fit back very cleanly & still displays nice, see pics above. Retains original tack eyes, weights & staple ring line tie. Very good collector species here. More pics available. Very nice & scarce classic species Hancock for any collection & a fresh offering from a old southern collection. SOLD! |
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Very
nice never rigged drake Pintail by R. Madison Mitchell (1901-1993), Harve de Grace,
MD. Signed & dated 1973. Excellent all original paint that's very
strong, clean & dry. Great paint on this one, lots of nice feathering.
Measure approx 19 inches long. Bird was never rigged to gun with. Condition is excellent & the way a Mitchell collector wants to find them. More pics avail. You have seen the
Mitchell market soar this past 3 years & this being a species favorite of collectors & strong quality makes it a great addition
to any collection. Early Mitchell's have brought 5 figures at Guyette
and Schmidt April 2004 sale. A great 35 year old classic Chesapeake Bay
Pintail decoy by the dean of Upper Chesapeake Bay makers. |
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Very rare & early Mallard drake by John Tax (1894-1964), Osakis, Minnesota. Circa 1930's. Very good plus all original paint & condition. Retains original ink stencil. Shows some honest old gunning wear as would be expected on a nearly 80 year old canvas decoy. These are very well made with very nice paint style. Very scarce to find in any condition, nearly impossible this nice. Measures approx 13 1/2 inches long & retains original tack eyes & still . Excellent bird here for the collector of factory decoys. More pics avail. (Consignment piece) $2600 |
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Early and well-matched pair of bufflehead decoys by Hooper’s Island, Maryland master decoy maker Alvin Meekins (1918-1992). Circa 1950s. All original paint with gunning wear. Simple paint patterns with great look and patina to the surface. Original tack eyes. Original scrap iron ballast weights in the Hooper’s Island tradition. Both birds are in very good condition overall. Measuring approx 10 1/4 inches each. Meekins made decoys for many years, originally for his own use and for sale to local gunners and later for sale to tourists. This is a fantastic pair of true gunning birds with good age, great form and wonderful perky attitude. Early birds by Meekins are hard to find, especially his buffleheads. Truly a great pair of Chesapeake Bay butterballs by Hooper’s Island’s most famous maker. More pics avail. SOLD! |
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Fantastic & very early drake Bluebill by James "Jim" Currier (1886-1971), Harve
de Grace, MD. Circa 1920-40. Super nice & clean all original
paint & condition, with very nice paint patterns, including some great
"feather" painting & blending of colors. This beauty measures
approx 14 inches & has slight high head style that
collectors look for in Currier's best & earlier carvings with a great
fat body style. Retains original weight & line tie. Condition is excellent
with a couple of paint flakes & loss of white lead over nails that capped nails that head is put on with. Great example here by a classic decoy maker who
made all of his own decoys & did it by hand. This may be from a rig that was found years ago in MD and they were all thought to be the work of the Holly family also of Harve de Grace. A outstanding decoy for
any collection of Classic Chesapeake Bay decoys by one of the most undervalued
old time makers from the upper Chesapeake Bay area. More pics avail. $2450 |
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Very nice, all original and early classic Brant decoy by Ira Hudson (1873-1949), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa
1900-1930. Very good strong and dry all original paint with honest gunning & age wear
as expected from a 80+ year old gunning decoy. No repairs or touch ups of any kind. As clean
as you could hope to find for the price with very thin but secure neck crack that doesnt distract. Has typical old age check in bottom as most bigger bird solid body birds do by Hudson because of his use of heartwood (When you have 12 kids to feed you probably never waste or thow away anything). Solid body it measures approx 17 3/4 inches long. This is Hudson's
earlier but classic style & are seldom ever found in all original
paint. Solid body, tack eyes & retains original weight.
Nicely done & very tight feather painting on the sides. This is a very nice, honest & very clean Hudson Brant and it will be sure to please. Fresh offering from a old collection. More pics avail. $4500 |
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Classic Bluebill drake decoy by the Ward Brother's, Crisfield, MD. Circa 1940's. Very nice all original paint with honest wear from gunning, but is clean,
dry & strong, the only repaint is a working one in the area of the neck puddy that was replaced by the hunter many years ago & added some brown to sides of head area. Nice but light feather paint detail & classic Ward Brothers
form. Hard balsa carved body measures approx 15 1/4 inches long, has a great looking
slightly turned cedar head. Both glass eyes are original and are intact. Classic Ward Brothers Bluebill duck decoy
for any collector looking to add a choice example to a collection. E-mail
for more pics if interested, very nice bird here & sure to please any collector that would like to add a nice example of a classic Ward Brother's decoy to their collection. (Consignment piece) $2250 |
