Very scarce "Dudley" style hen Hooded-Merganser decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 20 years old. Excellent all original aged paint. Great style body that measures approx 11 inches long. Has great form with nice carving. Retains original aged leather remnant line tie & weight, also nail in breast line tie reminiscent of the great classics of VA and NC. This is a nice style by Mark done in the classic style of the Dudley's, not known if they ever made Mergansers but if they did this is what it would probably look like. Looks a 100 years old. More pics avail. of this collector favorite species. Carved McNair signature. Great looking piece by McNair, more pics available.
$1250

Excellent Golden Plover shorebird decoy by Delbert "Cigar" Daisey (born 1924), VA. Circa less then 10 years old. Ink signed on base & branded "CIGAR" on bottom of base and bird. Excellent all original paint in excellent condition. Stylish carved body measures approx 9 1/4 inches with raised wing tip split tail carving. Has black glass eyes. Cigar's decoys have soared thru the roof in the last couple of years & choice examples are hard to get, Cigar has quite the following all over the country. If you have been watching the price of Cigar's decoys the last few years or been to any of the local auctions on Delmarva you know what a good value this scarce beauty is. More pics avail.
$550

Super nice, folky & classic football style drake Bluebill by Ira Hudson (1876-1949), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1930-1940. Has excellent all original paint with very little wear for the age & useage, lots of great blending & scratch painting. No repairs or touch ups of any kind, has been waxed. Has a area on forehead with some mouse chew & small spot on bill, it does not distract & adds to the character, also small amount of neck filler gone on backside of head & small but secure crack on right side of neck. Measures approx 14 1/2 inches. This is a classic & very desirable Hudson style, with a great head style with nicely carved bill, football style body, with classic flutted tail carving, solid cedar body, & tack eyes. Retains original pad weights & screw eye line tie. This is a really nice true classic Hudson Blackhead, great form & very clean. Great bird and in the condition and style you always hope to find a Hudson. More pics available of this Chincoteague classic.
$3500

Exceptional & very fat "High tail " model Black Duck by the Ward Brothers, Crisfield, MD. Circa 1948, signed & dated. Excellent all original paint & condition. Paint is very strong, clean & dry. Beautiful patina & great paint patterns on this one. Minimal wear with a few tiny dents & bottom edge wear, tiny chip to underside of bill at mandible. Has a slight but tight age line on right side that doesnt distract. Classic fat high tail model hat collectors love in the 1948 vintage models. Balsa body with cedar head & tail insert that measures approx 17 inches long. Head is turned to left with no cracks in neck filler. Great looking classic Ward decoy here, very clean & nicely done style for that era & the condition is exceptional. The price of good earlier Wards continue to be strong, they are great American folk art & stand on their own. This is a sweet decoy for any collector looking to add a classic Ward Black Duck and demands exceptional original condition examples & investment quality decoys. E-mail for more pics if interested, you be hard pressed to ever find one better.
$6950

Scarce Virginia style Curlew shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Carved McNair signature on bird. Very nice all original aged paint & condition. The surface is very well done with great looking patina & aging. Nice detailed brush work on this beauty including very nice plummage work on head. Nice bold full body style that measures approx 16 inches tip to tip with splined bill and head inletted and pegged to body with carved dowells. The body is hollow carved and put together with hand carved dowells. Glass eyes, nice curved bill & raised wing and tail carving. This is a very neat and seldom seen style & looks 100 years old. Its tuff getting any McNairs & this is a really nice style that is pure Mark & very sought after species by McNair. If you like shorebirds or McNair carvings this is a nice piece that you will enjoy adding to any collection of old or new shorebird decoys. Priced to sell and more pics of this beauty avail.
$1750

Outstanding preener Mallard drake by Marty Hanson, Prior Lake, Minn. Circa less then 20 years old. Has Marty's black ink stamp on bottom. Excellent all original paint & condition with a great patina. Paint is very detailed with some outstanding brushwork by Marty. Has been gunned over but wear is honest and very minimal, only fault is one glass eye has a crack but is solid & intact. Body is hollow carved and measures approx 15 1/2 inches, and retains original keel. This is a very nice decoy, great paint, surface & form. Marty is a great talent & if you have ever tried to get any decoys at a show by Marty you know he sells out fast & keeps a backlog for his fine work. Scarce model here & sure to please. Good buy here. More pics available.
SOLD!

Early and very nice "Brigantine Bullhead" Black~Belly Plover shorebird decoy by Bill Harris, Brigantine, NJ. Circa 1880-1920. Excellent paint that is all original with slight gunning and age wear, great surface that is very clean and dry with great patinia of age. Lots of nice lines and feather bushing on this decoy, a lot going on with Harris's paint style, shows much thought & care in his workmanship. Great stylish solid carved body that measures approx 12 1/2 inches long. Has great form with nice sweeping body carving, almost Dove like then Harris carves a almost oversized very round head. They say he did this to signify a juvenile BB Plover as other BB Plovers found have a more normal sized head that were also done by his hand. Has a nice sharp bill tip as most examples of this rig have broken tips or are very blunted. Bill is original and is splined thru head. These are the birds that gave the term "Brigantine Bullhead". Great looking classic & very clean and original NJ shorebird decoy for any collection. More pics of this beauty avail.
$4500

Outstanding Dudley style Ruddy Duck decoy by Cameron McIntyre, New Church, VA. Circa less then 20 years old. Excellent all original aged paint & condition with exceptional intentional wear & crackled paint to give the look of that 100+ year old Dudley Ruddy that everyone wishes they would find in that old barn. Stylish and true to original example solid carved body measures approx 10 1/2 inches & is very accurate in detail with proper lead ballast and leather & square nail line tie. Paint has been aged proper with an incredible soft & dry patina. Stamped "CTM" signature in bottom of bird & side of weight. I know of 1 other example of a Dudley Ruddy by Cameron, as with most of Cameron's reproductions of historic & important decoys he keeps those pieces very scarce. This is a very nice decoy for the money, as Cameron's work is nearly impossible to get. Excellent bird here for the collector of southern decoys or of Cameron's work. More pics available.
SALE PENDING!

Very folky and early oversize running Yellowlegs shorebird decoy, maker unknown but Massachusetts area. Circa 1880-1910. Very nice and very strong all original paint & condition, including original wooden bill. Paint is very clean, dry & strong, with nice basic feather plummage painting. This bird has a nice surface with good colors with a nice deep patina. This is a nice sized bird measuring approx 17 inches long and is a lamanated 3 piece body. Condition is very good plus with some honest old age & gunning wear as shown. Very neat running position body style with outstreched neck and raised wing tip carving. Has original metal leg in body. Very nice old Massachusetts shorebird with great primitive folk art form and with a very nice old all original surface. Good looking old decoy for any collection of folk art or antique shorebirds. Very nice buy here as you can look for a long time and spend a lot of money looking for a shorebird with great form & surface that might not touch this bird for the money. Custom stand included and shown above. More pics available.
SALE PENDING!

Outstanding hen Pintail decoy by Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, VA. Circa signed & dated 1992, signed in 2009. Has Grayson's "C" carved in bottom. Excellent all original paint & condition with some gunning wear as it was part of Graysons gunning rig for many years. Great patina on this beauty. Life size hollow carved cedar body measures approx 16 3/4 inches with slightly turned head. Retains original weight & part of the leather line tie. Nice glass eyes with no cracks. Grayson signed this bird in 2009 & wrote the following on the bottom. "I made this Pintail in 1992. It was part of my gunning rig for many years. I always thought it was one of the best Pintails I ever carved. It has been exibited at the Ward Museum, the Smithsonian and the National Folklife Festival". This is a awesome decoy by one of the best classic decoy makers of this generation. Get this modern classic while you can. More pics available.
SOLD!

Exceptional classic Canada Goose decoy by Ira Hudson (1876-1949), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1930's. Ex- Bill Purnell collection & has his "P" branded in bottom. Excellent thick, dry and very clean all original paint with very little wear for the age & useage. Has the rarely seen paint style of the white stripe across the top rear near tail. Condition is excellent with no full length body checks that Hudson Geese are known for, has small age line on right shoulder as can be seen in pic above but as nice a piece of wood as I have seen used on a Hudson Goose. Very slight age lift to head has caused separation in neck puddy but just honest nature of wood movement as it ages. Measures approx 23 1/4 inches long & with a nice full body. This is classic & desirable Hudson style, with a great head style with nicely carved bill and a nice flowing full body style. Retains original tack eyes, nail line tie & weight. Nicely done paint style, a lot of nice thick brush work on this one and the condition is as good as you can expect to find on a bird of this vintage from Chincoteague. This is a really nice Hudson Goose, great form & very clean. More pics avail. Hudson decoys are true classics & his work is eagerly sought by collectors of both classic historic decoys & folk art. Very scarce to find in such fine original condition with no repairs or any touch ups. Very good buy on this one.
$7500

Superb feeding position Obediah Verity style Blackbellied Plover shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Carved signature on bird & ink signed on bottom of wooden stand. Excellent all original aged paint & condition. Beautiful surface on this beauty. Lots of paint work & time on this one, loads of tiny plummage feather painting. Measures approx 11 1/2 inches, fat full body style with excellent intentional wear and very soft patina. Carved eyes, splined bill & raised wing carving, all very accurate in detail to the classics by Obediah Verity. This is a neat style & looks 100 years old. Its tuff getting any McNairs & this is a really nice style & fairly scarce. Carved McNair signature. McNair made wooden stand included. More pics avail.
$1250

Super nice approx 1/3 size Mallard pair by Bill Cranmer, Beach Haven, NJ. Signed & dated 1978. Superb all original paint & condition. Paint is mint, dry, very clean & detailed. Signed by Cranmer on bottom with 1978 date. Solid cedar bodies measures approx 8 1/4 inches long each and both have a slightly turned head with glass eyes. Cranmer carved mostly in the 1940's, including winning in the 1948 New York Decoy Show. He was strongly influenced by the Ward Brothers. I think he made mostly minis in his later years. Nice looking pair here by a very well known NJ classic maker. More pics avail.
$400 pair

Early and rare matched pair of "Lincoln Type" Yellowlegs shorebird decoys, maker unknown but Massachusetts area. Circa 1880-1900. Very nice all original paint & condition, including original bills on each. Paint is very clean, dry & strong, with nice feather brush work on both birds. Both have a nice surface with great colors with a perfect patina. Has a nice split wing style carving and are of the carving style in Mass. that collectors refer to as "Lincoln Type" because of the similarity to the shorebirds carved by Joe Lincoln of Accord. Has a few small size shot scars on front pictured bird. These are nice size birds measuring approx 11 1/4 inches long each. Very neat alert body style with outstreched neck. Very stylish old Massachusetts shorebirds here with great primitive, folk art form. Good looking old matched pair for any collection of folk art or antique shorebirds. Stands included and more pics available.
$1250 pair

Exceptional earlier Ruddy Duck hen decoy by Delbert "Cigar" Daisey (born 1924), VA. Circa 1971. Signed & branded "CIGAR". Excellent & very detailed all original paint & condition in excellent condition. Stylish detailed carved body measures approx 11 1/4 inches & has nice carved wing tips & very detailed bill carving. Has glass eyes and weighted keel. Cigar's decoys have soared thru the roof in the last couple of years & choice examples are hard to get, Cigar has quite the following all over the country. If you have been watching the price of Cigar's decoys the last few years or been to any of the local auctions on Delmarva you know what a good value this earlier beauty is. Good species here, and one of the prettest hen Ruddies I have ever seen by Cigar, sure to thrill the lucky collector.
SOLD!

Outstanding Verity style Peep shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 5 years old. Excellent all original & very detailed aged paint & condition with very well done intentional wear. Measures approx 6 1/2 inches, fat full body style with nice low running form. Carved eyes, splined bill & carved raised wings with some nice shot scars. This is a really nice style & a very popular with collectors of Mark's fine work. Carved McNair signature. McNair made wooden stand included. More pics available of this great looking McNair. Hard not to want to add this little beauty to your collection, great form, style & paint and a classic.
$650

Scarce "Collector Grade" model Black Duck by the Ward Brothers, Crisfield, MD. Circa 1957, signed & dated. Excellent all original paint & condition. Paint is very strong and clean. Beautiful patina & great paint patterns on this one. Minimal wear with a few small flakes, small dent near tip of right wing. Balsa body with cedar head & nice wide tail insert that measures approx 16 inches long. Head is turned to left slightly. Great looking classic Ward decoy here, very clean & nicely done style for that era & the condition is very good plus. The Ward's started to see a influx of collectors in the 1950's and started to focus on more "Collector Grade" examples instead of just gunning birds. The Collector Grade models are a bit fancier in carving and quite a bit more of the classic Ward Brothers detailing in paint work. The price of good Wards continue to be strong, they are great American folk art & stand on their own. This is a sweet decoy for any collector looking to add a classic Ward Black Duck and demands excellent original condition examples & investment quality decoys. E-mail for more pics if interested, you will like this one for the price.
$5450

Super nice set of 3 Black Belly Plover tin Shorebird decoys with original sticks & super nice original box. Circa 1890-1920. Excellent all original paint that is just about mint with minor assorted contact flakes from storage. Paint is very dry, clean & strong with great colors. They look to never have been used. All are superb & retain original wire clasp, one bird is missing one but a easy fix. Retains original sticks for each. Box is in fantastic shape with all hardware present & in good shape. This is the first time I have had a marked "Black Breast Plover" box, you usually only find Yellowlegs boxes & they are hard to find anywhere near this nice. Factory maker unknown but thought not to be S&S as not marked as such on inside but has the same gloss paint finish on inside of decoys as the paint used in the S&S models. This is the first I have had any of these in awhile as they are getting very hard to aquire, especially in this nice of condition. More pics avail, very nice set for the shorebird or tinnie collector.
$1250 set

Superb & one of a kind hen Red-Breasted Merganser decoy by Mark and Ian McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa 2010. Outstanding all original paint that has been aged & shows a stunning patina. Lots of nice paint detail and color blending. This big girl measures approx 20 1/2 inches. Has carved eyes and a very cool carved head crest with the bill going thru head and splined like they do on shorebird. Has leather line tie & is weighted. Carved signature by both. This is a neat style & looks 100 years old, its all McNair style & that is what makes it superb. Very cool and very unique piece here as it was made and donated by Mark and his oldest son Ian to the 2010 Eastern Shore of Virginia Ducks Unlimited. Extra nice piece here for the McNair collector looking for something unique. More pics avail.
SOLD!

Nice miniature Canada Goose by Miles Hancock (1888-1974), Chincoteague Island, VA. Signed by Mr Hancock & dated 1971. Measures approx 6 inches. Excellent all original paint, thats very dry & clean, with very nicely done scratch paint patterns on back, a very sharp & clean little bird. Has tack eyes, still has all paint on eyes. Has a nice raised wing carving. Hancock started making his "little birds" after a heart attack in the 1960s and selling them to the steady increasing flow of tourist to Chincoteague Island. This one has a great look, & more pics avail.
$325

Super rare hen Goldeneye decoy by Ira Hudson (1873-1949), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1920-30s. Excellent all original paint & condition, the paint is exceptional, very strong, clean & dry with craquelure and patina. Wear is very minimal honest gunning wear, probably hunted less the 3 times. Nice classic scratch painting with great looking paint patterns & very cool large wing patches. Bird is solid body carved & is made from cedar and measures approx 14 3/4 inches & retains original leather line tie & Hudson's pad weight. Decoy is a classic flowing fluted tail model. Tack eyes. Thin as a hair natural age line on back as would be expected from a Hudson & small shot scar across top of the bill, visable in pics above. If you are looking for the rarest & finest examples by Hudson this one is for you. More pics available of this fine old Chincoteague decoy. A good buy on this one as decoys of this quality & vintage from Chincoteague continue to be an excellent investment & just do not come to market anymore.
$11,500

Scarce and extra nice Black-Belly Plover shorebird decoy by Levi Rhodes Truex (Died 1934), Atlantic City, NJ. Circa 1890-1920. Paint is very strong & all original and pretty exceptional for the age. Very strong, clean and dry surface on this beauty. Has glass eys & retains original bill. Measures approx 9 3/4 inches. Truex was a New Jersey bridge tender from Atlantic City. He mainly made decoys for sale to others, usually from the old cedar bridge timbers. The old NJ shorebirds by named makers are hard to find this clean & original, for the money its a great buy here. Good species & condition for even the pickest NJ shorebird collector. More pics avail.
SALE PENDING!

Superb mint drake Widgeon decoy by Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, VA. Has Grayson's "C" carved in bottom or each. Excellent all original paint & condition that is never gunned over & mint. Life size hollow carved cedar body measures approx 16 inches long with slightly forward swimming head, also has a raised wing tip and a nice full body carving. Retains original weight and leather line tie. Nice glass eyes with no cracks. Grayson was the "Carver of the Year" at the 2004 Harve de Grace Decoy Show, and just did an exhibit at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. More pics available. This is a very nice decoy and a great collector species by one of the best classic decoy makers of this generation. Grayson's decoys continue to be some of the most sought after decoys in todays market, get this modern classic while you can.
SOLD!

Super nice earlier Mallard pair by "Hurricane Pete" Peterson, Capeville, VA. Signed & dated 1981. Excellent all original paint & in excellent condition. Solid carved cedar body measures approx 17 1/2 inches long each, with great stylish head & full body carving. Heads are slightly turned to left on both birds, hen has hair line age line but is tight & very hard to see. Glass eyes with original leather line tie & weight. Has Pete's brand "PETE" in bottom. Pete makes a great bird & his decoys are a collector favorite, & getting harder to find, & the paint on this pair is very well done & slightly aged with a few shot scars & dark wash to give it a nice aged look. This is a really nice pair & scarce species by Pete. Sure to please any collector of Pete's great looking work. More pics available.
SOLD!

Superb approx 1/3 size "Fancy grade" Mallard hen by Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, MD. Signed & dated 1970. Superb all original paint & condition. Paint is mint, dry, very clean & detailed. Signed by Lawson on bottom with 1970 date. Solid cedar body measures approx 8 3/4 inches long and has a slightly turned head with painted eyes. Has very nicely done carved wing tips. 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. I think this beauty is pretty scarce with the carved wings on back & sides, this is probably his fancier grade of mini, hard to see the detail in pics but very nice example here. More pics avail.
$400

Superb & very stylish Dove decoy by Colin McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa 2007. Excellent all original aged paint & condition with some very lite intentional wear to edges proper. Lots of nice paint work & time on this one with great paint blending of colors. Measures approx 15 inches with a nice slightly turned head with carved eyes. Has nice deep wing carving with raised tips & long tail. This is a neat style & looks very old with a perfect patinia surface. Colin is the youngest of the very talented sons of Mark McNair & his work is superb. Its tuff getting any of Colin's carvings these days as he works full time. This is a really nice style. Carved "C. McN" signature under edge of right wing, also has ink signed carved wood block stand which is included. More pics avail. of this outstanding Dove by Colin.
$650

Excellent Black Duck decoy by Ben Schmidt (1884-1968), Detroit, Mich. Circa 1940's. Superb all original paint & condition with very minimal rubs to edges. Nice painting style & a very nicely done carved feathering finish. Measures approx 19 inches long & retains original weighted keel & leather line tie. Has "FB" stamped several places on bottom. Ben Schmidt probably made more decoys then any other Michigan maker and that was because they were great decoys to hunt with. Very strongly made but yet very life like. An excellent quality example here by one of the greatest of the old time Mississippi Flyway makers. Sure to please any collector of top shelf quality examples of historic makers or Black Duck decoy collectors. More pics avail.
$1800

Excellent Yellowlegs shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Excellent all original aged paint & condition, superb surface very dry and clean with proper wear for aged look of antique shorebird. McNair classic style bird with slight raised shoulder/wing carving with split tail. Solid carved body with glass eyes, measures approx 12 inches long. Has splined bill. Carved signature & McNair made wooden stand signed in ink on bottom. The paint on this bird is excellent, but with Mark it always is. This is a very nice Yellowlegs by Mark & a popular model with collectors. You saw some record prices for McNair's this past 2 years at auction with a collection that has started to come to market. McNair's continue to be very strong in todays market & they also continue to be very hard to find for sale. Priced to sell. More pics avail.
SOLD!

Very nice rig mated pair of Canvasback decoys by Paul Gibson (1902-1990s), Harve de Grace, MD. Circa 1940's-50's. Very good plus all original paint & condition. Nice painting style & a very dry finish, with lots of nice feathering brush work. Measures approx 15 3/4 inches long each & both retain original weights & line ties. Has some honest but light wear from gunning & age but overall very good plus. I believe these are pretty early because of paint style & orange pupil on hen. Paul was one of the upper Chesapeake Bays finest makers, totally self taught & only made his own decoys. His decoy output was small compared to Mitchell & earlier gunning examples this clean are a lucky find, especially a nice rig matted pair of classic Chesapeake Bay Canvasbacks. An excellent pair of hunting decoys by one of the great old time Upper Chesapeake Bay makers. More pics avail.
SOLD!

Early and folky Red Knot shorebird decoy, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa 1880-1900. Good original paint with honest old age and gunning wear. Surface has been waxed which probably has saved remaining paint. Has a few small size shot scars and bill is replacement. This is a smaller size bird measuring approx 7 1/2 inches long with a slightly oversized head with very cool carved eyes. Somewhat crude but stylish old Eastern Shore Red Knot with great primitive folk art form. Good looking old decoy for any collection of folk art or antique Eastern Shore shorebirds.
$675

Super neat Ira Hudson style Hooded Merganser pair by Mark Daisey, Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 2010, and branded "MARK". Strong, dry & clean all original paint that shows lite intentional wear & aging to give it the look of the hundred year old classic by Ira Hudson. Nice fat size birds at approx 13 1/2 inches long each with solid carved bodies. Rusted tack eyes with good flutting to tail & head crest notches as proper to follow Ira Hudson's classic. Has aged weight & line tie. Mark Daisey is the nephew of the "world famous" Cigar Daisey. He makes a excellent decoy in many different styles including copying some of the classics. His work is a smart buy for the good quality that he puts into his work. Extra pics avail & a great buy on this pair.
SOLD!

Big fat Cannon Ball Ruddy Duck by Ian McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 15 years old. Excellent all original aged paint & condition with some intentional wear to give it the look and feel of a 100 year old classic. Measures approx 10 1/8 inches long with a nice fat full body style. No eye model with nice raised wing tip carving. This is a neat style and a McNair family classic style. Ian is one of the very talented sons of Mark McNair & his work is superb. Its tuff getting any of Ian's carvings these days. Carved I McNair signature. More pics avail. of this outstanding Ruddy.
SOLD!

Superb mini Canada Goose by Bill Joiner, Chestertown, MD. Signed & dated 1990. Superb all original paint & condition. Paint is mint, dry, very clean & detailed. Signed by Bill on bottom with 1990 date. Solid cedar body measures approx 10 inches long and has a slightly turned head with glass eyes. Has very nicely done carved wing tips. Bill is the nephew of the very famous Charlie Joiner and his work is outstanding. He only made decoys for a few years in the 80's thru early 90's but it is obvious he shares the Joiner gene for being able to paint with a incredible eye for detail & color blending as his uncle excelled in. These are pretty hard to find as they are highly sought by collectors who specialize in Charlie's outstanding work. More pics avail.
$275

Very early Connecticut style Black Duck by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa 1972-1974. Carved "MSM" signature. Very good plus all original paint & condition. Paint is well done in classic Conn. style with basic dark painted body & very detailed painting on head. Measures approx 16 inches. Glass eyes with a nice hollow carved body, and retains original leather line tie. Done in the classic style of Connecticut carver Ben Holmes, Mark was probably still living in Conn. when this was carved. Very neat bird here for the McNair collector who is looking for something different. This bird is as early as you will find a signed McNair. More pics avail.
SOLD!

Superb Eared Grebe in summer plummage by Harold Haertel (1904-1996), Dundee, Illinois. Signed & dated 1975. Superb all original paint & condition. Paint is about mint, dry, very clean & very detailed. Signed on bottom with 1975 date. Solid carved body measures approx 8 inches long with a slightly turned head with glass eyes. Harold Haertel was a master carver who was also known for his fine collection of classic North American decoys. His work is outstanding and highly sought by collectors of antique and contemporary decoys. Outstanding example here & I would think it has to be a very rare species by any carver. This one is a beauty & guaranteed to please. More pics avail.
SOLD!

Excellent "world record style" running Curlew shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 15 yrs old. Excellent all original aged paint & condition. The surface is outstanding with great looking patina & aging. Nice fat full body style that measures approx 21 1/4 inches tip to tip. Carved leather eyes, nice curved bill & raised wing carving, all very accurate in copy detail to the Curlew that once held the world record for a antique shorebird decoy. This is a neat style & looks 100 years old. Its tuff getting any McNairs & this is a really nice style & very sought after model by McNair. Carved McNair signature. Stand included. More pics of this beauty avail.
$1750

Super nice and very scarce Canvasback drake by Ira Hudson (1876-1949), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1925-1940. Hard to figure the paint on this one, its very old, looks like first coat but more Ward like then Hudson, might have been carved by Hudson & taken to the Ward brothers to have painted, hard to say but a great looking bird with nice paint and form with some honest old hunting wear. Nice bird here, very clean & dry with a few thin age lines in body and a neck crack but its very tight, has a spot of glue on left side base of neck where it looks like chunk from base put back into place. Nice fat body measures approx 16 1/2 inches with original tack eyes & some flutting to tail. This is a classic & very desirable Hudson style and species, great form & very clean. Great bird and in the condition and style you always hope to find a Hudson in this price range. More pics available of this Chincoteague classic.
$1850

Very nice snakey head style Challenge grade drake Mallard decoy by the Mason Decoy Company, Detroit, Michigan. Circa 1900-1910. Scarce hollow carved model. Very good plus all original paint & condition with exception of very well done tail chip repair slightly smaller then a dime also has the replacement of neck filler & area of touch up to left side speculum. Paint is very clean & strong but has some honest paint loss, mostly wood grain/age type loss to bare wood in a few areas & has 1 shot hole in body, pellet still inside. Looks as if someone put finish feeder on bird years ago, it has nice surface with good patinia. Retains both original glass eyes with no cracks. Measures approx 16 1/2 inches long & has a great looking long bill & head with no damage. More pics avail. This is a nice example with honest gunning & age wear, no excuses needed on this one & will be a nice addition to any collection. Very good buy on this one as hollow carved Challange grade Masons with snakey head style are highly prized by the Mason collectors.
$1800

Nice hen Mallard by Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, VA. Circa 2002 . Has Grayson's "C" carved in bottom and painted signature and date. Excellent all original paint & condition that is never gunned over & mint. Great surface on this beauty. Life size solid carved cedar body measures approx 16 inches with a raised wing tip and a nice full body carving. Nice glass eyes with no cracks. This is a more basic model by Grayson that is not hollowed or rigged. Grayson was the "Carver of the Year" at the 2004 Harve de Grace Decoy Show, and just did an exhibit at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. More pics available. This is a nice decoy by one of the best classic decoy makers of this generation. Grayson's decoys continue to be some of the most sought after decoys in todays market, get this modern classic while you can.
SOLD!

Outstanding & very scarce Spotted Sandpiper shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 10 years old. 1 of 10 made. Excellent all original & very detailed aged paint & condition with very well done intentional wear. Measures approx 8 inches, fat full body style with wide fat head. No eyes, splined bill & deeply carved raised wings with carry hole in tail. This is a really nice style & a very seldom seen species by Mark, I was told that only 10 of these were ever made. Carved McNair signature. McNair made wooden stand included. More pics avail. of this great looking McNair. Hard not to want to add this little beauty to your collection, great form, style & paint and very scarce model & specie.
SOLD!

Early and very nice Pintail drake decoy attrib to the Reeve's family, Long Point Shooting Club legacy, Southwestern, Ontario. Circa 1880-1925. Very strong all original paint that is very clean and dry with a great patina. Has been gunned but wear is very minimal. Great looking form with nicely done comb painting in gray area. Body is solid carved & measures appox 16 inches long with a straight forward head. Has glass eyes, original keel has been removed. Nice looking bird here and in the condition collectors love to find, especially a early Pintail. This beauty is sure to please & priced to sell, I wish I knew more about who made it. Will make nice addition to any Pintail or Canadian decoy collection. More pics avail.
SOLD!

Super nice Dove decoy by "Hurricane Pete" Peterson, Capeville, VA. Signed, branded & dated 1997. Excellent all original paint & in excellent condition. Beautiful blended colors with a nice dry and clean surface. Solid carved cedar body measures approx 14 inches long, with great stylish slightly turned head & full body carving with raised wing tip. Eyes are glass. Has Pete's brand "PETE" in bottom. Pete makes a great bird & his decoys are a collector favorite, & getting harder to find, & the paint on this beauty is very well done. This is a pretty hard to find species by Pete. Sure to please any collector of Pete's great looking work. Wooden stand made by Pete included. More pics available.
$400

Excellent & early Black Duck decoy by a possible collaborative work of Ira Hudson (1873-1949) and his oldest son Norman Hudson (1901-1983). Circa 1935-45. Exact decoy pictured in Berkey's book "Chincoteague Carvers and their Decoys", on pages 37 & 38. Excellent all original paint & condition, the paint is very strong, clean & very dry with outstanding surface that advanced collectors look for in antique decoys. Wear is pretty minimal considering the age & usage. Bird is solid body carved & is made from hard balsa and measures approx 16 inches. Bird has classic but subtle Hudson "ice dip" behind head & metal tack eyes, nicely carved bill detail & has a inletted weight very much like the work of Harry V. Shourds. These decoys have always been called Ira Hudsons in the earlier Virginia Decoy history books, but some of the fine research done in the last 20 years by different decoy collectors including the fine Ira Hudson decoy book done by Henry Stansbury concludes that they are may be the work of both but that the paint is Norman's and may be his carving as well. It is called a Ira in Berkey's book. Norman made a lot of the decoys we collectors call Ira's these days. Hudson had nine children, thats a lot of mouths to feed everyday, so it would be obvious that some of the children would be at work in the decoy shed. They say that Ira used a carved/pointed sweet potato to do his feather scratch painting while Norman used a pencil eraser & did his feathers in a continuous pattern like the decoy above. If you are looking for a outstanding & very scarce model Black Duck by Hudson this one is for you. More pics available of this fine old Chincoteague decoy, plus who don't love owning a great Hudson pictured in a classic decoy book and only a few of these are known to still exist.
$4800

Early & rare rig mate Mallard pair by Henry Holmes (1870-1940), Bureau, Illinois. Circa 1890-1910. Both are hot branded with a script "5" and "HOTCHKIN". Excellent all original paint that is very strong, dry & clean, very minimal gunning wear, excellent classic paint patterns. Bodies are hollow carved & measure appox 16 1/2 inches long each. Only fault is approx 1/3 of the hens bill was missing from hunting accident & restored to properly match . Both retain thier original glass eyes but weights have been removed. Holmes decoys are true classics & some of the earliest quality made examples from the Illinois River region. Rarely found in original condition they are even rarer as a matched rig mated pair. This pair is sure to please & priced to sell. More pics avail.
$4450 pair

Nice early Yellowlegs shorebird decoy, maker unknown but Long Island area. Circa 1890-1920. Ex-George Ross Starr Collection. Very nice and very strong all original paint & condition, including original nail bill. Paint is very clean, dry & strong, with nice basic feather plummage painting. This bird has a nice surface with good colors with a nice deep patina. This is a nice sized bird measuring approx 11 3/4 inches long and is a flattie type of carving approx 1 1/8 inches thick. Very neat alert body style with outstreched neck. Very nice old Long Island shorebird with great primitive folk art form and pretty cool that it is ex-collection of George Ross Starr. Good looking old decoy for any collection of folk art or antique shorebirds. Stand included and more pics available.
$700

Superb & super fat "Cannon Ball" style Ruddy Duck by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa 1980-90's. Excellent all original aged paint. Great style super fat body that measures approx 9 1/2 inches long & 16 1/2 inches around. Has great form with nice carving. Retains original line tie & weight. This is a nice style that is all Mark's style & hasnt been done in several years. Not an easy model McNair to find & 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. Looks a 100 years old. More pics avail. of this collector favorite. Carved McNair signature with earlier capital "R". Great looking McNair, hard not to want one of these "Cannon Ball" style Ruddy Ducks by Mark, he just does such a great job on them, its a McNair classic.
(consignment piece)
$1650

Superb mini Wood Duck hen by Bill Joiner, Chestertown, MD. Signed & dated 1985. Superb all original paint & condition. Paint is mint, dry, very clean & detailed. Signed by Bill on bottom with 1985 date. Solid cedar body measures approx 8 1/3 inches long and has a slightly turned head with glass eyes. Bill is the nephew of the very famous Charlie Joiner and his work is outstanding. He only made decoys for a few years in the 80's thru early 90's but it is obvious he shares the Joiner gene for being able to paint with a incredible eye for detail & color blending as his uncle excelled in. These are pretty hard to find as they are highly sought by collectors who specialize in Charlie's outstanding work. More pics avail.
$275

Outstanding & very scarce drake Greenwing Teal decoy by Miles Hancock (1888-1974), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1950's. Excellent & minty all original paint, thats very dry & clean, with very nicely done paint patterns. A very sharp & very seldom seen specie by Hancock. Measures approx 11 1/2 inches & is solid cedar. Has tack eyes with most paint still on them. Never weighted for gunning. Hancock was a neat guy with a great history, lots written on him is available in most all decoy books about historic Virginia carvers. He didnt make the prettiest decoy ever made but probably forgot more about killing ducks then 90% of other makers of the day. His ducks were made to last & are a interesting study, no apologies needed on his classic work. Greenwing Teal by Hancock are very scarce, probably only between one or two dozen ever made and this is a superb example. I have only had 4 of these over the years & this is probably tied for the best I have ever had. It is sure to please any collector of Chincoteague or Southern decoys. More pics avail.
$2450

Very fat and folky Seaford style Peep shorebird by Jamie Reason, Eastport, LI, NY. Circa 2001. Carved "JR" signature in bottom of bird and is ink signed & dated on bottom of stand. Paint is all original with nice intentional wear by Jamie to give it that look of a 100+ year old shorebird even has a rusty tacked tail area to give look of antique repair. Body is solid carved and has nice carved eyes, bill is oak & inserted into head proper & splined. Nice small size with very fat body carving that measures approx 6 1/2 inches long. Jamie has been carving for many years and carves mostly in the styles of the old classic makers of Long Island. Original signed wooden stand included. A very nicely done Seaford style classic with good folk art appeal, more pics avail. Good buy here!
$145

Super nice hollow carved Mallard drake decoy by Ian McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 10 years old. Carved signatue "I. McNair". Excellent all original paint that is slightly aged for a perfect look of a old antique classic. Great looking & very detailed comb painting in gray area proper. Body is hollow carved & measures appox 18 1/4 inches long with a slightly turned head & a very slight raised area to wing tip area, much in style to the great Conn decoys made by Shang Wheeler. I have had a few birds by Ian & his birds are superb in style, paint & construction. Retains original leather line tie & pad weight. Ian very rarely makes any decoys these days, he is having some fun traveling the world, last I heard he was fishing in Alaska & a newly wed. His decoys are very high quality as you would expect from a McNair, its in the blood. This beauty is sure to please & priced to sell. More pics avail.
$875

Very early model drake Bufflehead decoy by Miles Hancock (1888-1974), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1940-50's. Very good plus all original paint, thats very dry & clean, with very nicely done paint patterns. Measures approx 14 inches & is solid cottonwood. Has tack eyes with minimal wear from gunning, has approx a dozen old shot scars. Weight & line tie still attached. This is a much earlier model then you usually see by Hancock, longer, thinner tail. Miles made several rigs of Buffleheads in his later years but this bird is much earlier style & seldom seen specie in that vintage. Hancock was a neat guy with a great history, lots written on him is available in most all decoy books about historic Virginia carvers. He didnt make the prettiest decoy ever made but probably forgot more about killing ducks then 90% of other makers of the day. His ducks were made to last & are a interesting study, no apologies needed on his classic work. This is a very nice Bufflehead & one of the best I have had in a long time by Hancock. It is sure to please any collector of Chincoteague or Bufflehead decoys. More pics avail.
$985

Early unknown maker shorebird or Marsh Hen decoy, New England states area. Circa 1880-1920. Im a bit lost on this one, not sure if it was made as a shorebird or possibly a Marsh Hen because of the color use, but it is early and looks a bit like the "bird" type of carvings by Gus Wilson of Maine with the bold color use & painted human type eye. Very nice original paint & condition. Paint is very clean, dry & strong, with nice feather strokes and use of colors. This bird has a nice surface and a nice clean patina. Has a nice running style carving, and 2 holes in bottom for stick. Very cool human type painted eyes and the whole bird including the bill is carved from 1 piece of wood. This is a nice size bird measuring approx 13 1/2 inches long. Very neat running and alert body style with outstreched neck. Very stylish old bird here with great primitive folk art form. Good looking old decoy for any collection of folk art or antique shorebirds. Stand included & more pics available.
SOLD!

Early & rare flat bottom drake Mallard decoy by Charlie Joiner (Born 1921), Betterton, MD. Signed & dated December 1964. Excellent all original paint, with very stylish, clean finish. A very hard to find species by Joiner in this vintage with a flat bottom. Full size with glass eyes, measures approx 14 1/4 inches long. Has a slightly turned head & the "classic 64" wide bill carving. Perfect condition except for slight puddy lift on back of head. You will have a tuff time finding another one of these as early flat bottom models by Charlie are scarce & this is the only the 2nd one I have seen, the other was from the Ward Brother's family collection sold last year, also a matching hen sold on ebay last year. Serious Joiner piece here for the collector that thought they had it all.
(consignment piece)
$3400

Very scarce sleeper~ preener Black Duck hunting decoy by Miles Hancock (1887-1974), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1935-50. A very rare head position by Hancock, especially a earlier decoy that was made for gunning, I have only ever seen a couple of Black Duck's & a couple of Geese and one Pintail by Hancock in this pose. Full size and measures 15 inches & is Hancocks classic style with the solid body carving. Honest hunting wear but all original paint, clean and dry. Weight & line tie are still attached & has the hunter "TJ" carved into bottom, retains both original metal tack eyes. Body is of cottonwood and head is balsa like wood. Very rare Hancock for any collection, you just do not find these in today's decoy market at any price. Hancock was a market gunner by the age of 12 in 1899, later he guided after the end of market gunning till the 1940's when the daily duck limit dropped to 15 per man, he felt it wasnt worth it anymore for just 15 ducks. He once killed 52 Redhead ducks with just 5 shots. Hancock made a great gunning decoy & are a must have addition to any collection of historic classic Southern decoys. More pics available of this rare Chincoteague classic, you could probably count the known sleeper Black Ducks in collections today on 2 or 3 fingers.
$1200

Superb & very scarce flying Pintail drake by Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, MD. Circa signed & dated 1963. Excellent all original paint & condition, paint is dry, clean and mint with great colors. Measures approx 20 inches long with slightly dropped head and painted eyes. Wing tip to wing tip measurement is approx 16 inches. Only fault is tail break & reapplied as can be seen in pics above, no touch up done to cover, not bad for a delicate 47+ year old carving. 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 outstanding & very scarce full body carving by him that is as nice as you will ever find at any price. This beauty is sure to please, priced to sell quickly, extra pics avail.
SALE PENDING!

Outstanding & very scarce Walter Brady style Canada Goose by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 20 years old. Outstanding all original paint that has been aged & shows a stunning patina. This beauty measures approx 25 1/4 inches. Proper carved with no eyes & raised wing and hollow body carving with a great inletted thru head bill carving. Has leather line tie & is weighted. This is a neat style & looks over 100 years old, its a classic Eastern Shore style made like the great decoys made by Walter Brady of Oyster & Cobb Island fame. Its tuff getting any McNairs & this is a pure beauty, with outstanding form & aged paint. Carved McNair signature & has small ink drawing by McNair on bottom. It is thought that McNair probably only made 4 or 5 of these Brady style birds. More pics avail, if your looking for the tuff McNair pieces here is a rare chance to add a superb piece by Mark.
$4600

Superb Oscar Peterson (1887-1951), Cadillac, Mich., 7 1/4 inch Perch, fish spearing decoy. Circa 1930's. This fish has superb all original paint & condition with only very small wear or flake to edges. Paint is all original and exceptionally clean, & very strong with excellent color & brush work & nice original varnished finish. This fish is a tack eye model & both eyes retain all their paint as do most of the fins, more pics avail in detail. See Ron Fritz's excellent book "Michigan's Master Carver OSCAR W. PETERSON ", for like examples. Any Oscar Peterson in condition this clean, strong & honest is desirable & rare. This fish is guaranteed 100%, & would make a nice addition to any old fish decoy collection. More pics avail. This is a beauty and the best Peterson fish I have had in quite awhile!
SOLD!

Very nice & very scarce feeding hen Pintail decoy by the Wildfowler Decoy Company, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, Circa 1940's. Ex-Dan Brown collection. Very good plus all original paint & condition, if used it was very little, only wear is slight & probably from age & storage. Paint is very dry & clean, never waxed. This exact decoy is pictured on page 186 of Henry Fleckenstein's excellent book "American Factory Decoys". Measures approx 13 3/4 inches long & retains original keel & weight. More pics available. Nice bird here that you just never see & will be a top notch addition to any collection of Wildfowler decoys. If you like super nice & super scarce Wildfowler or factory decoys you will be very pleased with this one.
$275

Exceptional and bold Long Billed Curlew shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Carved McNair signature on bird & ink signed McNair made wooden stand on bottom of stand. Superb all original aged paint & condition. The surface is outstanding with great looking patina & aging. Lots of nice detailed brush work on this beauty including very nice dot work plummage work on head. Nice bold full body style that measures approx 20 3/4 inches tip to tip with splined bill and head pegged to body with carved dowells. Carved eyes, nice long curved bill & raised wing carving. This is a very neat style & looks 100 years old. Its tuff getting any McNairs & this is a really nice style that is pure Mark & very sought after species by McNair. If you like shorebirds or McNair carvings this is a piece that you will love owning, it is a absolute killer. Priced to sell and more pics of this beauty avail.
SOLD!

Very early Mallard drake by Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, VA. Circa 1978. One of Grayson's earliest gunnning rig birds. Has been signed by Grayson on bottom along with note about being from his 1978 rig. Very good all original paint & condition with some gunning wear and some puddy cracking around neck but is tight & secure. Life size hollow carved cedar body measures approx 18 inches with a raised wing tip and a nice full body carving in a nice swimming pose. Nice glass eyes with no cracks. This is a very early piece for the serious collector of Grayson's fine decoys. Grayson was the "Carver of the Year" at the 2004 Harve de Grace Decoy Show, and just did an exhibit at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. More pics available. This is a nice decoy by one of the best classic decoy makers of this generation. Grayson's decoys continue to be some of the most sought after decoys in todays market, get this modern classic while you can, wont find them this early too often.
$400

Folky Ruddy Turnstone shorebird decoy. Maker unknown possibly a piece by Finney. Circa less then 25 years old. Very nice original paint that has been intentionally aged and cracked to give it the look of a very old shorebird. This bird has great form, neat colors with a very dark deep patina. Has a nice folky body style carving with a square rusted nail for a bill. Has a few shot scars. This is a smaller size bird measuring approx 7 inches long. Good looking decoy for any collection of folk art or shorebirds that has the look of a very old bird at a lot less money. Stand included and more pics available.
$250

Nice and very fat "Barrier Island" Plover by Mike Robinson, Alaska. Circa less then 5 years old. Carved "XR" signature. Paint is all original has been intentionaly aged and worn. Has carved eyes with tack nails and measures approx 8 inches long but is a nice fat 9+ inches around. Body is solid carved, bill is puddied into head. Nice running form. Mike has been carving for years and carves mostly in the styles of the old classic Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Virginia makers. Cool wooden stand shown is included. A neat looking piece for the folk art or decoy collector, more pics avail.
(consignment piece)
$285

Very stylish drake Goldeneye by Reggie Birch, Chincoteague Island, VA. Carved signature "R.Birch". Excellent all original aged paint & condition. Nice job by Reggie here on the paint, great style & beatiful patinia. Solid carved body measures approx 16 inches long with raised wing carving. Glass eyes with lead pad weight & leather line tie. Nice addition here for the collector of Goldeneye decoys, or collectors of Reggie's fine work. More pics avail of this stylish beauty.
(consignment piece)
$550

Superb feeding position Obediah Verity classic style Robin Snipe shorebird decoy by Mark McNair, Eastern Shore of VA. Circa less then 20 yrs old. Excellent all original aged paint & condition. The surface is outstanding with great looking patina & aging. Lots of paint work & time on this one, loads of tiny plummage feather painting. Nice fat full body style that measures approx 8 3/4 inches as crow flies & approx 12 tip to tip. Carved eyes, splined bill & raised wing carving, all very accurate in detail. This is a neat style & looks 100 years old. Its tuff getting any McNairs & this is a really nice style & fairly scarce syle & specie. Carved McNair signature. Stand included. More pics of this beauty avail.
(Consignment piece)
$1650

Nice hen Mallard by Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, VA. Circa less then 20 years old. Has Grayson's "C" carved in bottom. Excellent all original paint & condition that is never gunned over & mint. Great surface on this beauty. Life size hollow carved cedar body measures approx 17 1/2 inches with slightly lowered head, also has a raised wing tip and a nice full body carving. Retains original weight and is keeled. Nice glass eyes with no cracks. Grayson was the "Carver of the Year" at the 2004 Harve de Grace Decoy Show, and just did an exhibit at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. More pics available. This is a very nice decoy by one of the best classic decoy makers of this generation. Grayson's decoys continue to be some of the most sought after decoys in todays market, get this modern classic while you can.
SOLD!

Very nice feeding style Verity Peep by Michael Johnson, Inman, SC. Circa 2010. Carved "MJ" signature. Paint is all original & slightly aged, has carved eyes & is lifesize and measures approx 5 1/8 inches long. Body is solid carved, bill is splined proper thru head. Nice raised shoulder carving with raised wing carving. Michael has been carving for 29 years and carves mostly in the styles of the old classic makers. He carves a few pieces to order for long time customers but mostly his work is only sold at The Audobon Gallery in Charleston, SC. Metal stand included. A very nicely done classic style Peep, more pics avail.
$225

Superb mini Red Head hen by Bill Joiner, Chestertown, MD. Signed & dated 1984. Superb all original paint & condition. Paint is mint, dry, very clean & detailed. Signed by Bill on bottom with 1984 date. Solid cedar body measures approx 7 3/4 inches long and has a slightly turned head with glass eyes. Bill is the nephew of the very famous Charlie Joiner and his work is outstanding. He only made decoys for a few years in the 80's thru early 90's but it is obvious he shares the Joiner gene for being able to paint with a incredible eye for detail & color blending as his uncle excelled in. These are pretty hard to find as they are highly sought by collectors who specialize in Charlie's outstanding work. More pics avail.
$275

Very nice stylish Bowman style resting Yellowlegs by Michael Johnson, Inman, SC. Circa 2010. Carved "MJ" signature. Paint is all original & very rich in color, has glass eyes & is lifesize and measures approx 10 1/2 inches long. Body is solid carved, bill is oak & inserted into head proper. Nice raised shoulder carving with split tail & carved thigh. Michael has been carving for 29 years and carves mostly in the styles of the old classic makers. He carves a few pieces to order for long time customers but mostly his work is only sold at The Audobon Gallery in Charleston, SC. Metal stand included. A very nicely done Bowman style classic with good folk art appeal, more pics avail. Good buy here!
$450

Exceptional & very rare "Open Water" model drake Canvasback by the Ward Brothers, Crisfield, MD. 1 of 18 made for a gunning rig on the Pocomoke River, only drakes were made for this rig. Circa 1920-30's. Excellent all original paint & condition. Paint is very strong, clean & dry. Beautiful patina & great paint patterns on this one. Minimal gunning & age wear with a few areas of loss to wood but very minimal considering age & enviroment. Has a slight age line in neck puddy that goes around the back bottom of neck where it meets body. Displays perfect. Has the Ward Brothers ink stamp under the tail. Great looking classic Ward decoy here, it is pictured in Gard & McGrath's great book "The WARD BROTHERS' DECOYS, A Collectors Guide", on top of page 17 in color plate 10. Solid carved body measures approx 16 1/4 inches long and has glass eyes. Retains original weights & line tie. Very clean & nicely done style for that era. The price of good early Wards continue to be strong, they are great American folk art & stand on their own. This is a sweet decoy for any collector looking to add a early Ward Canvasback and demands great or classic examples & investment quality decoys. E-mail for more pics if interested.
SOLD!

Very early & extra fat Dowicher from Jamaica Bay, Long Island, NY. Maker unknown but from the same hand as the birds made for the Theodore Rodgers rig, and may possibly be from that 1853 rig. Circa 1850-60. Very old, clean & strong paint, most of which appears to be original coat. Bill may be old replacement or possibly shortened as other Dowicher's I have seen from this rig have a long bill, it is proper splined thru head. Has shot scars & a area where wood was lost along grain on bottom right side (not shown but extra pics avail), may have had the "Rodgers" brand shaved off in that area and painted over. Overall a great looking & historic shorebird & as early as you will ever find any decoy. More pics avail.
(consignment piece)
$750

Very nice hen Canvasback decoy by Decoys Unlimited (1961-75), Erie, PA. Very good plus all original paint with a good patina & color. Nice brush painting style. Shows some wear from gunning use, mostly to edges. Great stylish full size body that measures approx 18 1/2 inches long. This beauty is solid carved very hard balsa body with cedar or pine head. Both glass eyes very clean with no cracks. Has makers stencil on bottom, also retains original keel. This was a fresh find & bought from original gunner owner. These were great factory made decoys to use for hunting, very good quality & nice big size, its a real shame no factory makes a wooden decoy of this quality to use for gunning these days. I will take these over plastic anyday. Great decoy to collect, these are quite affordable & make a nice collection. More pics avail. & guaranteed to please.
SOLD!

Super nice & very scarce Doug Jester (1876-1961) miniature Canada Goose decoy, Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1930-50s. Nice classic body style, measuring approx 7 1/2 inches long. Paint is all original & nicely done. Very clean, strong & dry. Very thin ageline around neck, thinner then a hair & is totally secure. Jester was well known for his classic Chincoteague style hunting decoys, but his minis are quite hard to find, especially this nice & a Goose.
$750

Very nice and large Long Billed Curlew by Michael Johnson, Inman, SC. Circa 2010. Carved "MJ" signature. Paint is all original & slightly aged on bill, has glass eyes & measures approx 22 3/4 inches long. Body is solid carved, bill is splined proper thru head. Nice raised shoulder carving with raised wing & split carved tail carving with slightly turned head. Michael has been carving for 29 years and carves mostly in the styles of the old classic makers. He carves a few pieces to order for long time customers but mostly his work is only sold at The Audobon Gallery in Charleston, SC. Metal stand included. A very nicely done & bold size Curlew with nice form & style. More pics avail. Metal stand included.
SOLD!

Super nice & very scarce Doug Jester (1876-1961) miniature Canvasback decoy, Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1930-50s. Nice classic body style, measuring approx 6 3/4 inches long. Paint is all original & nicely done. Very clean, strong & dry & has a few very small flakes to wood on back. Jester was well known for his classic Chincoteague style hunting decoys, but his minis are quite hard to find, especially this nice & a Canvasback is one of the hardest species to find as a mini.
$450

Super nice hollow Brant decoy by Ira Hudson (1876-1949), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1920-35. From the Bob-O-Del gunning rig & branded "O". Ex-Bill Purnell collection & hot branded with Bill's "W.H.P. jr" brand. Very strong, dry, and clean all original paint with some honest natural age & gunning wear. Very nice feathering on the sides of this beauty & some of the strongest white neck patterns I have seen on a Hudson Brant. No repairs or touch ups of any kind. Measures approx 16 1/8 inches & has a nice deep hollow carved body with nice v carving behind neck. Only fault is small 1 1/4 X 1/2 inch tail chip on right side tip of tail as seen in pic above. Great looking form, paint & finish on this desirable classic beauty. Has tack eyes. Retains the original line tie and weight. This was pictured in Richardson's "Chesapeake Bay Decoys and the Men Who Made Them", and also pictured in Cameron McIntyre's article on Ira Hudson in Decoy Magazine. More pics avail. A outstanding classic model Ira Hudson Brant example for any collection.
SOLD!

Classic, crisp & very clean Black Duck decoy by Miles Hancock (1888-1974), Chincoteague Island, VA. Circa 1940-50's. Excellent all original paint, thats very dry & clean, with very nicely done scratch paint patterns on back, a very sharp gunning Black Duck. Measures approx 17 1/4 inches & is solid cottonwood. Has tack eyes with minimal wear from gunning. Weight & line tie removed. This beauty was pictured in Fleckenstein's "Decoys of the Mid-Atlantic". Hancock was a neat guy with a great history, lots written on him is available in most all decoy books about historic Virginia carvers. He didnt make the prettiest decoy ever made but probably forgot more about killing ducks then 90% of other makers of the day. His ducks were made to last & are a interesting study, no apologies needed on his classic work. This is a excellent classic Black Duck & one of the best I have had in a long time. It is sure to please any collector of Chincoteague or Virginia Black Ducks. More pics avail.
SOLD!

~~~WANTED TO BUY~~~

~~~WANTED TO BUY~~~
MINIATURE DECOYS BY MARK McNAIR FOR MY COLLECTION
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