Duck Decoys

By: Judy Penz Sheluk

As seen in The Antique Shoppe Newspaper, March, 2005

 Florida the first bird sanctuary, and in 1918, the U.S. and Great Britain (then acting on behalf of Canada) passed the Migratory Bird Treaty.

 "This essentially put an end to commercial hunting and placed very strict limitations on what species, and how many of each could be hunted," said Frank Schmidt, co-owner of Guyette & Schmidt, Inc., the world's largest antique decoy auction firm. "With the end of the market hunting days, many of the hunter's tools, including his decoy 'rig' were cast aside, burned or left unattended in boathouses and barns."

 It was the publication of 'Wild Fowl Decoys' by Joe Barber in 1934 which first introduced North Americans to the decoy as a colorful piece of history. "Barber recognized that while a rudimentary carving that replicated a duck would work well in the field, many of the men who produced these pieces went well beyond the basics to produce beautiful and detailed works of folk art," said Schmidt.

 Among the most sought after are the works of Albert Laing (1811-1886), an innovative New Jersey carver who came to Stratford, Connecticut in 1865. Laing was the first to fasten the body together with copper nails which would not rust. Another respected New Jersey carver was Harry Shourds (1861-1920), a prolific maker known for his realistic carving and painting. Still other carvers made decoys in varying grades, from plain and simple, to realistic representations. One such man was Ira Hudson (1876-1949) of Chincoteague, Virginia.

 The most famous of all carvers is likely Anthony Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) of East Harwich, Massachusetts. Most specialists believe that Crowell's earliest works, intricately carved from white pine, and painted with close attention to detail, were his best. Crowell's son also worked with him, and it is possible that some of his work may also feature Crowell's trademark rectangular brand, which was stamped into most of his decoys after 1915. As hunting laws changed, Crowell began to carve fewer working decoys, and began making more decorative examples, many in miniature form.

 Not all decoys were produced by individual carver. The 19th century demand for decoys brought about several factories. The largest of these was the Mason Factory of Detroit (1896-1924), who sold thousands of decoys by mail order catalogue for about a dollar a piece. In January 2000, a record price was realized for a factory decoy when the Mason Premier wood duck drake brought $354,000.

 "The current record for a waterfowl decoy at auction is $810,500 for a carved pintail male, made by Elmer Crowell in the first quarter of the 20th century. The decoy market has seen a very steady rise in values since the early 1970's, when the collection of William J. Mackey Jr. was offered at public auction," said Schmidt. "A curlew sold in that 1973 auction for $10,000 and was sold again at auction in 2000 for over $450,000. These are the kind of changes we have seen taking place, especially in the past 15 years." In Guyette & Schmidt's April 2004 auction, a total of 800 lots of decoys brought 4.3 million dollars, and while the focus often appears to be on the highest prices realized, many were affordably priced at well under $1,000. "There really is something for everyone," said Schmidt, who notes that their retail website 'Everyone's Decoy Warehouse' (linked to www.guyetteandschmidt.com) also offers decoys from $100 and up.

"The key is to purchase from a reputable dealer who specializes in decoys," said Schmidt. "As with any high-priced collectible, an increase in value has brought an increase in fakes and reproductions. Read all you can about decoys, and purchase auction catalogues to become familiar with types and prices. Attending auctions is an education in itself; for it is there you will meet decoy dealers from all over the country, and get a chance to handle some of the best decoys in existence."