Rare and Early Widgeon Decoy by Joseph (Joe) W. Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts, circa 1915. Joe Lincoln owned a farm on Accord Pond which was the focal point of his life for fishing, hunting, and decoy making. While Lincoln was typical of many New England decoy makers, he spent his early days working at local shoe factories; yet, because his decoy skills were in such high demand, he eventually carved full time and created some of the most desirable decoys on the Atlantic Coast. This Hollow Carved Widgeon decoy is from the F. B. Rice Rig (the Brand is on the Bottom); there is a Photographic example of a Widgeon from the F. B. Rice rig on pg. 55 of Cap Vinal’s book “Joseph W. Lincoln”. The Decoy offered here has had a Professional Paint Restoration in Lincoln’s Original Style and Aged to Reflect its Period of Origin (again, compare this restoration with the Original Paint Decoy in Vinal’s book). The Form and Carving on this decoy are reflective of the vision Lincoln had of a Working Decoy. It also has Glass Eyes which Lincoln felt were more effective, after using tack eyes in his early decoy (note that one has been replaced). Measurements: 15 ½” in length, 6” in width, and 7 ½” in height. Lincoln Widgeon are rarely found and those in original paint even rarer. This is an opportunity to own a Fine Lincoln Widgeon with a Quality Paint Restoration.

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Price $1350 plus shipping

A Late Pair of Eider Decoys by Alton G. Wallace (1909 – 1995), West Point, Phippsburg, Maine, circa 1980s. Alton Wallace, the son of Amos Wallace, was probably best known for his boat building skills, and notably the designer and builder of the “West Pointer”, a boat built for coastal fishing. As with most Maine fishermen and boat builders, Wallace carved decoys for hunting coastal waterfowl. As he said once, he used a “hatchet, spoke shave, and pocket knife”, and he kept his paint patterns simple. Many of his decoys were branded “A. Wallace” which sometimes confuses people with Amos Wallace, but the Amos Wallace decoys have a much different design. After Alton misplaced his original brand, he created his “A.G. Wallace” brand, represented on these decoys. In addition, Wallace’s late Eiders are much more refined than his earlier decoys. This Pair displays a Bold Eider Form, Excellent Original Paint, suggesting little or no use, an Inletted Neck, and No Eyes. Measurements: 19” in length, 9 ½” in width, and 8” in height. They were originally part of an old Maine collection.

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New Price $1000 plus shipping

Very Appealing Canvasback Drake Decoy from the Upper Mid-West, probably Michigan, circa 1940s -1950s. The Decoy displays Fine Form, especially in the Head Carving (see large images) and has Paint Eyes. The Paint, which is totally Original, has a Primer Coat of Gray, so that once the Canvasback Paint Pattern is applied the White Areas take on a Mellower, no shine, Effect to enhance the Decoy’s Realism on the Water, rather than a brighter white. In addition, Blending the Red and Black on the Head again enhances the Realism of the Decoy. Remnants of the rigging suggest the decoy was rigged fore and aft, perhaps as part of a line rig. The decoy measures 17” in length, 7” in width, and 7” in height. A nice Canvasback Decoy from Michigan.

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Price $325 plus shipping

Black Duck Decoy by Herbert S. Randall (1900 – 1971), Seabrook, New Hampshire, circa 1950s ?. Herbert was the son of Herbert L. Randall (b. 1867), a “market hunter”, a shoe maker, and a decoy carver. He grew up working with his father in the market hunting arena, eventually working as a shoe maker, and a decoy carver. In some ways Herbert was a jack of all trades, working as a hunting/fishing guide, in construction at the Naval shipyard in the 1940s, and finishing up as a carpenter, all the while carving shorebirds and duck decoys for the local population and the tourist industry. Over the years, I have collected numerous examples of Randall’s hunting decoys and this Black Duck is indicative of the birds he carved for local hunters. Many examples have Randall’s name carved in the bottom, many don’t. As a rule, his duck decoys are nothing special, but with his earlier decoys there is typically more Bill Carving, as with this example where the Bill is Quite Detailed. While he typically used tack eyes in his shorebirds, his Duck Decoy almost always have Glass Eyes. The Paint on this Black Duck is rather heavy and put on without much care, though it appears to be Original under a black light, and was obviously used in a muddy water cove. As noted, the name “Randall” is carved on the bottom and the weight is typical of many weights found on the bottom of Randall’s duck decoys. Measurements: 14” in length, 5 ½” in width, and 6 ¾” in height. An Old Seabrook, New Hampshire, Randall Black Duck.

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Price $165 plus shipping