Frank Strey,Oshkosh,Wisconsin WBW1
Frank Strey Canvasback Hen in what is certainly Strey's best style. This decoy is most likely a take down of what was once a Drake with some paint added to the bill area. The hole in the bill is sealed with varnish. The decoy also appears to have an old coat of varnish for waterproofing. To my knowledge Frank Strey never made a Hen Canvasback, so this may be very unique or a take down as I mentioned? Great form and structurally just a great old working decoy in any event!
DeWitt Wakefield,Freemont,WI.,WBW2
Early example of a Bluebill Hen by the earliest of all recognized Wisconsin decoy carvers, DeWitt Wakefield of Freemont Wisconsin. Very old working decoy,Ca. 1880 with fluted tail and hump back style. Great lines in this BB example.
Attributed to Ferdinand Bach,(1888-1967) MBW1
Redhead attributed to Ferdinand Bach (1888-1967). Old working decoy which has been repainted and so not as refined as most Bach's shown in the literature. 14" long, solid body and a fat 7" wide. Old working paint in very good structural condition.
Gus Moak,Tustin,WI.,WBW3
Gus Moak Drake Canvasback in original condition as well as paint. 17" solid body work of art by the famed August Moak of Tustin Wisconsin. Decent paint and a more unusual pattern for this carver with convex bottom board.
Frank Strey,Oshkosh, Wisconsin WBW4
Giant Wisconsin Bluebill Hen 18" long very wide and high probably the early work of Frank Strey or by his brother Charles Strey. The tail is from the early style circa 1910. This Bluebill Hen is thought to be unique but there are several other giant Strey decoys of other species known. Important piece of Folk Art.
August Moak,Tustin,WI. ABW5
Special order Hen Canvasback used on the Illinois River. Decoy is in comb paint under a light brown wash. From the rig of Walter Peacock Chicago sportsman and heir to the Chicago jeweler business, Peacock Jewelry started in 1837. Note the inscription on the bottom that says "this decoy was a gift from Jimmy Robinson (Sports Afield)Minneapolis to Jack Mitchell". This decoy had come from the Peacock rig used originally in Manitoba. Guyette and Schmidt sold this decoy for Mr. Mitchell in 1986 when it was advertised as made by G. Bert Graves (Peoria,IL). The decoy has an original Graves strip lead weight on the bottom which caused the confusion. The Peacock rig had decoys by many of the great Illinois carvers including Graves, and the game keeper likely added the weight during regular rig maintenance operations. Simple but regal decoy in untouched condition! Decoy is Circa early 1900's!
One Armed Kelley,Monroe,MI.,MBW2
One Armed Kelley Hen Canvasback 17" large solid body working decoy in original paint as well as condition. Bob Tail Down River Detroit Canvasback!
JAMES WALTON,MILWAUKEE,WI.,WMM1
A PAIR OF OUTSTANDING JAMES H. WALTON GUNNING DECOYS, CIRCA 1940 IN ORIGINAL CONDITION AS WELL AS PAINT AND I MEAN OLD DRY PAINT WITH OUTSTANDING PATINA. ABOUT 12' IN LENGTH, THE PAINT IS MORE IN EVIDENCE ON THE DRAKE WITH THE HEN A LITTLE MORE WORN. A FEW SHOT MARKS ON THE NECK OF THE DRAKE WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF WEAR TO ONE SPOT ON THE TAIL. BOTH BIRDS RETAIN THE ORIGINAL GLASS EYES AS WELL AS A SHEET BALLAST WEIGHT. WONDERFUL FORM WITH RAISED CARVED WINGS AND DETAIL TO THE BILL CARVING. SMALL HAIRLINE CRACK TO ONE SIDE OF THE DRAKE'S HEAD. MOST INTERESTING ARE THE FULL SET OF BLUE PRINTS THAT WALTON USED PRIOR TO UNDERTAKING THE ACTUAL CARVING AND THIS IS THE FIRST FULL SET I HAVE EVER SEEN WHICH ARE INCLUDED WITH THE DECOYS! HIGH INVESTMENT GRADE ANTIQUES IN VERY GOOD OVERALL CONDITION.
CHECK OUT PAGE 195 OF THE NEW GREAT LAKES BOOK FOR PICTURES OF HIS DECOYS AND BLUE PRINTS.
BEN SCHMIDT,CENTERLINE,MI.PRICE REDUCED! MBW4
Detroit Redhead Hen in O.P. as well as overall condition. Rubs to the paint and several small age cracks in the wood. This is attributed to Ben Schmidt's early period work without chisel stamping, but may also be attributed to Ralph Reghi. It is fair to say that decoy identification is not always an exact science! Nice form and retains the original glass eyes.
JOE SEIGER,TUSTIN,WISCONSIN WBW6
JOE SEIGER(1871-1959)
SEIGER MADE CANVASBACK DECOYS IN THE STYLE OF AUGUST MOAK, BUT SEIGERS ARE NOW MORE VALUABLE. RARE BLUEBILL FOLLOWING THE SAME BASIC PATTERN AS MOAK'S CANVASBACKS WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL TAIL AND 7/8TH'S BOTTOM BOARD. A RARE BLUEBILL AND FINELY CARVED DECOY IN VERY OLD WORKING PAINT, 14" LONG. THE FORM OF THIS DECOY CAN MIMICK THE CANVASBACKS ATTRIBUTED TO JOE SEIGER AND ARE IN THE SAME STYLE AS MOAK CANVASBACKS. SEIGER IS NOT KNOWN TO HAVE MADE BLUEBILLS. A UNIQUE DECOY IN THE BEST WINNEBAGO LAKES FORM!
Burton Lang/Radke, Horicon Marsh,WI.WBW7
All original decoy from the rig of L Radke who hunted with and learned to carve from Burt Lang of Horicon Marsh Wisconsin. This could be a Radke or Radke/Lang dual project. The decoy is signed on the bottom by Radke's daughter who dates the decoy at around 1922-1924.
One Armed Kelley,Monroe,MI.PRICE REDUCED! MBW5
Very early One Armed Kelley Drake Canvasback with a separation at the base of the neck. Second coat of old hunter paint evident with wear to the primer in some places as shown. Retains the original eyes and is a very good example in great posture. Wonderful detail in the carving and positioning of his heads. Retains original keel and is rigged for hunting with the forward line swivel intact.
Attributed to C Solomon, Winnebago Lakes, Wisconsin WBW8
Hugh Winnebago Lakes Canvasback Drake 19" long and an impressive 11" high attributed to the work of Carleton Solomon. It is hard to find an original decoy like this in O.P.
Joe Gigl,Freemont,WI.,WBW9
Great pair of Gigl Canvasback's in original paint as well as condition. Cork bodies with wooden finely carved heads along with thick bottom boards as shown. 18" long, see Winnebago book by Ron Koch.
Otto Misch,Saginaw Bay,MI.,MBW6
17" long hollow Canvasback Hen by Otto Misch circa 1920-1930. His unique lead keel weight has been removed but it's imprint is clearly visible on the bottom board. Also, the comb carving at the back of the neck is present. Original paint with great lines!
A.J. Ackerman,Michigan MBW7
20" hollow Blue Goose carved with a hatchet by the well known Northland Michigan carver. He turned out hundreds of decoys using nothing but a hatchet and they are very distinctive look. He is featured in "Rainbows In The Sky" a book on Michigan Folk Art. This decoy with the set back neck is by far his best work and is all original. A large Goose with a bottom board as shown.
WJY1 HAND CARVED PREENING CANADA GOOSE BY DARKFEATHER FREEDMAN,MADISON WI., MINT ORIGINAL PAINT AS WELL AS CONDITION., DETAILED BILL AND FEATHER CARVING, GLASS EYES, 20" LONG, A VERY NICELY CARVED DECOY!!
Joe Gigl,Freemont,WI.PRICE REDUCED!WBW10A
Very nice and very hard to find in this condition. Joe Gigl over sized cork Drake Mallard with a slightly turned head. Mint condition as well as O.P. Form is great, especially the head. The paint, especially on the head is great as well. Retains the original glass eyes as well as 1/2" bottom board.
Darkfeather Friedman,Madison,WI.,WJY2
Hand carved Blue Goose by Darkfeather Freedman of Madison, Wisconsin.,mint original paint as well as condition, detailed bill carving as well as feathers, glass eyes, 18" long. A SUPER DECOY!
Earl Tomlinson,Detroit,MI MBW8
Hollow Canada Goose in original condition as well as paint. Regal shape with original bottom board as well as glass eyes. Great "snakey" neck and head carving. Decoy is circa 1930's. For a reference see Bernie Crandell on page 61.
WBW11 Lake Poygan, Wisconsin preening canvasback hen attributed to August
Nelow (1882-1962) from Omron. This decoy was in the rig of Menasha
sportsman, John Buss, Sr. (1881-1960) , a contemporary of Nelow.
Another similar canvasback with preening head (obviously by the same
hand) is in the Dasher collection and is shown of pg. 174 of Ron Koch's
Winnebago Lakes book as an unknown. Body form and the speculum painting
indicate Nelow, who had several styles of canvasbacks starting in 1909
and extending his carving career into the mid 1950's. This one would
fit in the late 1930's. Great piece of Wisconsin folk art in excellent
original paint except caulking on neck has been repaired.
Freemont,Wisconsin,Unidentified WBW12
Vintage 1930's smooth cork over wood with a wooden tail from Joe Gigl's time but this unidentified carver made very few of these fine decoys for hunting purposes. Best Wisconsin decoys we have seen, 16" long, all original and clean.
Winnebago lakes Unidentified WBW13
Hollow over sized Wisconsin Canvasback Drake which is 19" long with bottom board. This decoy is by an unknown carver from the Winnebago Lakes area circa 1920-1930. The glass eyes have been replaced and moved forward and are yellow instead of red which could be fixed.
Frank Schmidt,Centerline,MI.PRICE REDUCED!MBW9
Outstanding example of the work of decoy carver Frank Schmidt of Centerline Michigan. Drake Mallard is in outstanding posture and is all O.P. as well as structurally mint as to condition. Flat bottom working decoy with incised feather and wing carving.
WBW15 August Nelow (1882-1962) was one of the "big three" classic period
carvers in Wisconsin (Omron in the Winnebago Lakes region). This 14"
blue bill is his middle period style and the most desirable folk art
look circa 1920s. Paint looks original but is not his typical pattern
so may be a hunter's repaint.
Art Best,Lake Poygon,WI.,WBW14
Art Best, big solid body Hen Canvasback working decoy which is about 19" long. All original paint as well as condition with the "AHB" brand on the bottom. Circa 1940's.
Chris Smith.St. Claire Flats,MI.,MBW10
Chris Smith or Toby Meldrum Snakey
Head Black Duck, 17" with very thin shell. Shown in several books as a Toby Meldrum, recent articles have attributed these to Chris Smith. Meldrum worked in the Chris Craft Boat Shop along with several other carvers. Neck has been repaired and this is common with these due to the thin neck exposure. See page 147 of Michigan to St. Claire book.
Milwaukee School,WPA Decoy WBW16
Milwaukee School working Black Duck decoy in original paint as well as condition. Hollow carved 5 piece laminated construction with a pegged bottom. Detail to the head carving with nicely crafted wing carving. 14" Long.
Ralph Reghi,Michigan MBW18
Very unique decoy with built in mechanical recoil device. The piano wire anchor line passes through a metal plate on the bottom onto a wooden spool held by a rod inside a spring coil with a "key" which coils the spring. This was designed to give the decoy some motion in the water. First class carving by Ralph Reghi circa 1930's in original paint as well as condition except for a repair to the bill.
Christie Brothers,Bay Shore,MI.,MBW17
Solid cedar Whistler Drake attributed to the Christie Brothers of Bay Shore, north of Bay City Michigan, probably made prior to 1900. The very unusual paddle tail feature was used on many of their early decoys. See Saginaw Bay book by William Stout which offers a great background on these three bachelor carvers. The decoy has great form with a demure face,tack eyes and a dog bone weight. The head is pegged to the body and is removable.
WBW20 14.5" cork body mallard hen found in Prarie Du Shane, WI in the WPA
Milwaukee school style. all original with excellent mellow paint. A
well balanced working decoy with a great head.
WMM20 ***VERY NICELY CARVED GREEN WING TEAL ATTRIBUTED TO WISCONSIN, CIRCA 1930 IN ORIGINAL PAINT AS WELL AS CONDITION. TIGHT AGE CRACK AROUND THE NECK AS SEEN, SOLID BODY, 14" LONG. ORIGINALLY RIGGED TO HUNT AND USED AS SUCH.
MMM2 EARLY REDHEAD DRAKE BY NOTED MICHIGAN CARVER TED VANDENBOSCH, CIRCA 1920 IN ORIGINAL CONDITION WITH SOME PAINT ENHANCEMENT TO THE BREAST AND TAIL (BLACK PAINT). THERE IS A WELL DONE SMALL OLD PATCH ON THE BACK, 6" BY 1 1/2". RETAINS THE ORIGINAL GLASS EYES AS WELL AS THE SWING WEIGHT WHICH WAS USED TO KEEP THE DECOY FROM FLIPPING OVER IN HEAVY WATER USE. EXCELLENT BILL CARVING. ABOUT 16" LONG.
MBW19 12" Whistler drake by St. Claire flats carver Dick Watson (RCW brand on
bottom). Form the early 1950's this decoy is all original and came from
Bob Hayden's rig hunted over in California and Mexico.
Unidentified Hand, Attributed to Michigan MBW12
Over sized Bobtail Michigan Golden Eye Drake in original paint as well as condition. 16" long with folky inlet head and great paint. Tack eyes in Down River Detroit style.
Unidentified Carver,Michigan Attributed,MBW11
Unidentified carver attributed to Michigan and could possibly be Chris Smith in original condition with paint strengthening to the front, neck and tail areas of this very old working decoy with the "classic" V tail which was a Chris Smith trait. Very nice sleek form with glass eyes and a line eyebrow carving just above both eyes running back toward the neck. Detail carving to the bill with original ballast weight still on the bottom. Solid body collectible decoy!
MMM1 WALTER SNOW, CENTERLINE MICHIGAN SOLID BODY CANVASBACK DECOY IN ORIGINAL CONDITION WITH ORIGINAL RED TAXIDERMY EYES WITH ORIGINAL KEEL CIRCA 1955. DECOY IS ABOUT 16" LONG BY 7" IN WIDTH WITH CARVED WINGS, SHOULDER GROOVES AND JUST GREAT FORM. SNOW WAS A NEIGHBOR OF BEN SCHMIDT AND LEARNED A LOT ABOUT CARVING FROM BEN.
Gus Nelow,Omro,WI,PRICE REDUCED!WBW13A
Old Gus Nelow Coot in original condition with a hairline crack to the neck and some hunter touch-up to the bill as well as the white areas on the wings. Classic Nelow head with the weight on the bottom being a half oxen shoe. Oxen went out of use in Wisconsin well before WW II.
WBW17 Ollie Drahn made the best heads of any carver in the Winnebago Lakes
region (Oshkosh, WI) . This is his later cork body style 1940s
canvasback hen all original 16" long
Burton Lang,Horicon Marsh,WI., WBW18
When Ron Koch put out a second edition of his Wisconsin book, the only addition was for this important carvers works. Original condition as well as paint with a light coat of varnish. Decoy is patterned after the Petersen Factory with Evans style paint. The speculum and the inlet strip are unique to Lang, even though this is not his most folky work.
MBW14 Marvin Strahota (1903-1977) MARQUETTE, MI (Winnebago Lakes region) is
known for his folky cork body decoys with unique carved solid rump
region. The profile of his decoys are stark and classic 1930s period.
Attribution to unidentified carver, New Baltimore,MI..PRICE REDUCED! MBW15
Old working Redhead decoy in original paint as well as condition. Paint "crackling" as shown is most likely due to a heat source as well as some degree of a relationship to in-use gunning wear. Decoy is circa 1930 in great folky form and very nice scratch paint. Retains the original glass eyes and this flat bottom solid decoy is attributed to an unidentified carver from New Baltimore, Michigan carver.
Ollie Drahn, Oshkosh,WI.,WBW19
16" Over sized Black Duck by Ollie Drahn of Wisconsin in original paint as well as condition. Great head carving,(Eyes look up to the sky),body is believed to be a joint effort between Drahn and his hunting buddy Marvin Zuehlke who was one of the founders of "Aid Association For Lutherans" the Appleton Wisconsin Insurance Company. Dates from mid 1930's.
WMM3*** C. R. "SPEED" LEMKE HEN MALLARD CIRCA 1940 IN ORIGINAL CONDITION AS WELL AS PAINT WITH SOME FLAKING BEGINNING TO OCCUR ON THE FRONT BREAST AS WELL AS THE 3/4" BOTTOM BOARD. GREAT FORM WITH THE BALLAST WEIGHT STILL IN PLACE SET INTO THE BOTTOM. THREE PIECE DECOY WHICH IS ABOUT 12" LONG AND JUST A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS CARVERS WORK WITH THE WRITING IN PENCIL ON THE BOTTOM, C. R. "SPEED" LEMKE MILWAUKEE OMRO MALLARD. NICE WISCO DECOY!!
WMM4 DARK FEATHER FRIEDMAN DRAKE CANVASBACK SOLID BODY DECOY IN ORIGINAL CONDITION AS WELL AS PAINT IN MINT TO NEAR MINT CONDITION RETAINING THE ORIGINAL GLASS EYES AS WELL AS THE BOTTOM KEEL.
MBW16 15.5" big and hollow St. Claire flats redhead by Bungeon Sampier circa
1900-10. This decoy was used on Saginaw Bay well into the 1970's
attesting to its structural soundness. Lots of coats of old paint plus
an unusual cast aluminum keel weight similar to that used by Otto Misch
(likely an addition from the 1950's). Unique head carving with bill
carved almost to the top of the head.
Unidentified Wisconsin Cork Mallard,WBW21
Wisconsin hump backed cork bodied Drake Mallard with a finely carved pine head with detailing. Some loss to the cork as shown attributed to in-use gunning wear. Retains the original glass eyes and thick bottom board which is original, Ca. 1930's.
MBW21 This big 17" long canvasback was found in the Upper P of
Michigan and could be a Larger grade Evans. The bill was broken
off at some point and hunter replaced with and insert similar to a
Sibley. Nice form and paint.
Attributed to Wisconsin,Unidentified Carver WBW22
Old working Coot decoy attributed to Wisconsin. Material is either some type of cork or foam, molded as one piece including the keel. The head was done as a separate piece.
WBW23 Cork and tin tipping butt decoy fashioned in cork with tin wings and
tail - iron counter-balance. Dates from Wisconsin in the 1930's, and
is quite a rare form. All original with paint loss on the tin.