1930s Decoys

Early 20th century Folk Art German carved bird of prey We are proud to offer a rare example of a Folk Art German painted wooden life size bird of pre...

Antique Ward Brothers red head drake decoy, early period, circa 1930, having a hand carved hollow body, a distinctly shaped head with painted yellow eyes and carved nares and bill gape, and a small paddle tail, in worn original paint. This decoy has to my eye a very whimsical, even comical demeanor. It is a working decoy is from what the Ward Museum has described as their early period (1916-1932), and is in the same style as others that have appeared at auction identified as being from circa 1930. The decoy is not signed, as is often the case with their work from this period, but does retain a paper collection label inscribed "1930s Redhead Ward Bros. Crisfield, Maryland." Lemuel T. Ward, Jr. (1896-1984) and Stephen Ward...

Northeastern seaboard cork black duck decoy, likely from Long Island, circa 1930s-1940s, another intriguing decoy with a beautifully carved wooden hea...

Schmidt tole-ware decoy goose We are proud to offer a highly decorative Schmidt tin tole-ware double sided painted decoy goose dated circa 1930. This is a true working example and ...

Schmidt tole-ware decoy goose We are proud to offer a highly decorative Schmidt tin tole-ware double sided painted decoy goose dated circa 1930. This is a true working example and ...

Mallard duck decoy covered in shells. Shells range in various hues of brown and white. Two black rocks serve as eyes, with a black beak and white s...

Tin toleware Schmidt decoy goose We are proud to offer a rare example of an early Schmidt tin tole-ware painted decoy goose, circa 1930. This item does not stand alone and is double...

Classic Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, South Portland Maine, circa 1930s, beautiful rough hewn gunning decoy by Maine's great Augustus Aaron Wilson (1864 - 1950), having the head set at alert angle turned strongly to left side, slightly cocked as well, with his carved and painted eyes, scribed nares and mandible, characteristic Y carving to underside of bill, strongly inlet neck, carved raised wingtips and paddle tail; in original dark brown paint with yellow-green eyes and bill, and black wing patches.; small flat lead weight nailed to bottom, and having a screw eye line tie. The decoy is in great condition for an old working bird: there are cracks and broad splinters original to the block and beneath the paint, several knots, some loose, some chips, a nibble at the tip of the bill, a very few shot scars, and a tiny bit of paint drip. All in all, a very typical Wilson decoy. Wilson was a very frugal Yankee and used reclaimed wood... odd and end cast off chunks and blocks he found and gathered for free. The nature of his raw material shows through in the final product, and his decoys usually have age check, splinters, knotholes and wood loss. A rustic sculptor, he whittled his "hand chopped" decoys with a hand ax. In spite of the deceptively simple carving and simplest of paint jobs, he found sublime expression in his posturing and facial expression. Most every decoy he carved tended to have the heads cocked more or less to the side, and turned at some angle, occasionally even all the way backwards in a preening or sleeping position. Just a few chops with a hatchet and his wooden blocks came to life, oozing attitude. And when set afloat they come to life, ready to quack, take flight or snap your finger off if you reached too close. Gus Wilson is justifiably known as one of Maine's greatest folk artists, and one of the finest decoy makers from any region of the country. Gus Wilson was born 8 September 1864 in the small town of Tremont on Mount Desert Island. He spent his entire life along the coast of Maine, working variously as a Waterman, boat builder, fisherman and sportsman, and supplemented his income by selling handcrafted decoys. He joined the Lighthouse Service...

Abstract duck sculptures, circa 1930. Unique forms constructed of cut wood to provide a unique, stacked effect.

This pair of handmade metal and rod iron flamingos in original blue painted surface are in good condition. These great decorative birds are probably for ...

1930s log goose decoy, made from a log and the neck and head are hand-carved to fit the log. The neck is painted and has amazing patina body also has amazing patina created by age an...

This amazing log goose decoy is made from a log and the neck and head are hand-carved to fit the log. There is amazing patina to the body and neck areas of this decoy only created by...