Elmer Crowell Quarter Sized Canada Goose Decoy, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Quarter Sized Canada Goose Decoy, by J.Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, MA (1862 - 1952), circa
Category
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Cedar
Elmer Crowell
White Winged Scoter Decoy by Elmer Crowell, circa 1910
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early White Winged Scoter Decoy by Elmer Crowell (East Harwich: 1862-1952), circa 1910, a hand
Category
Vintage 1910s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Cedar
Recent Sales
Painted Canvas Covered and Carved Wood Slat Canada Goose Decoy
Unavailable
H 21.5 in W 39 in D 14.5 in
Painted Canvas Covered and Carved Wood Slat Canada Goose Decoy
By Joseph Lincoln
Located in New Hope, PA
themselves, Elmer Crowell, Joseph Lincoln and others. They also raised and kept live Canada geese. A goose
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Elmer Crowell Pair of Over-Sized Mallard Decoys, circa 1920, with oval brands
Sold
H 7.5 in W 18.75 in D 7 in
Elmer Crowell Pair of Over-Sized Mallard Decoys, circa 1920, with oval brands
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Pair of Special Order Over-Sized Mallard Decoys, by J. Elmer Crowell (East Harwich: 1862
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Self-Bailing Scoter Decoy by Joseph Lincoln (1859-1938)
By Joseph Lincoln
Located in Nantucket, MA
having gotten his good friend Elmer Crowell started on carving his miniatures. He died in 1938 after
Category
Vintage 1910s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Elmer Crowell Widgeon Drake Decoy, circa 1940
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Widgeon Drake Decoy, circa 1940, by J. Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, MA (1862 - 1952), a
Category
Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Cedar
Martha's Vineyard Black Duck Decoy by Frank Richardson, circa 1920
Located in Nantucket, MA
, with carved eyes, delicate feather scratched paint pattern likely inspired by Elmer Crowell, head
Category
Vintage 1920s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
American Decoy The Invention by Peoria Riverfront Museum, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
whose work was shown, including: Charles Schoenheider Sr., Elmer Crowell, Charles Perdew, the Caines
Category
2010s American Books
Materials
Paper
People Also Browsed
Roger Litski 1950s Pair of Mallard Decoys
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Mallard pair of hand carved by Roger Litski. Original paint still showing. Glass eyes. Each marked on the bottom "R.L." Oversized for big water. Period: circa 1950 Origin: Green Bay...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Decoys
Materials
Wood
Pair of Mason Detroit Grade Canvasback Decoys, circa 1920
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Pair of Evans Factory canvasbacks Item Number: Y606A Pair of Evans Factory canvasbacks. Original paint, hand carved, glass eyes. Were used in Wisconsin. Almost complete wing pain...
Category
Vintage 1920s American Decoys
Materials
Wood
D.W. Nichol Signed Hand Carved Wood Duck Decoy, Male Cinnamon Teal
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful work, a male cinnamon teal, hand carved and painted by renowned duck decoy artist D W Nichol. Beautifully crafted and decorated. The work is signed "Male Cinnamon Teal...
Category
20th Century Canadian Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood, Paint
Harry V. Shourds Signed Vintage Antique Wood Duck Decoy Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic hand-carved and painted wood duck decoy (possibly a New Jersey Bluebill) by Harry V. Shourds. The piece is signed/branded on the underside. Would be a great additio...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood, Paint
Life Size Swan Decoy
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swan decoy from Havre de Grace, Maryland. Original paint. Period: Mid-20th century Origin: Maine, United States Size: 32” x 10” x 17’ Family Owned & Operated Cisco’s Gallery deals ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Pair of Early 20th Century American Eider Duck Decoys
Located in Chicago, IL
A special and whimsical pair of early 20th century American hands-carved wood Eider Duck decoys with black and white painted bodies and eyes.
Category
Vintage 1920s American Country Decoys
Materials
Wood
Classic Maine Eider Drake Decoy, circa 1920s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Classic antique Maine Eider Drake Decoy, circa 1920s, with head tucked back in contented posture. Decoy is in well worn original paint with touch-ups to the black areas. The neck has...
Category
Vintage 1920s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Feeding Goose Decoy
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Carved and painted Canadian goose decoy. Well painted head and under body. Back unpainted. Hunter used. Natural wood grain looks like wings and feathers. Period: Early 20th century ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Decoys
Materials
Wood
Martha's Vineyard Baldpate Drake Decoy, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Martha's Vineyard Baldpate Drake Decoy, circa 1900, a hand carved and hand painted gunning decoy by an unknown maker on Martha's Vineyard of an American Wigeon in colorful or...
Category
Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, South Portland Maine, circa 1930s
$3,800
H 6.5 in W 16 in D 6 in
Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, South Portland Maine, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
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 th...
Category
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Hand-Crafted and Hand-Painted Hardwood American Duck Decoy
Located in Germantown, MD
An Mid Century, large, Hand-crafted and Hand-Painted American life size Duck Decoy measuring 20" in width, 9" in depth and 13" in height.
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Decoys
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage Canada Goose Decoy
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Canada standing Goose Decoy on bent nail legs, by carver of birds and working decoys William "Roy" Mill (1902-1982), Kensington, Prince Edward Island.
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Decoys
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique, USA owned by Bob Tillbutt
$1,136Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.63 in W 12 in D 3.75 in
Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique, USA owned by Bob Tillbutt
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Germany at an estate sale, this hand carved and hand painted duck decoy is perfect for the collector. Well used by a previous hunter the paint has faded through time althoug...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood, Paint
Monumental 19th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique Austria Decoration Item
$1,100
H 8.75 in W 22.25 in D 8.25 in
Monumental 19th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique Austria Decoration Item
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Vienna Austria at an estate sale, this hand carved and hand painted duck decoy is perfect for the collector or just as decoration item. Very good condition, made of wood and...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Mason Blue Wing Teal Decoys
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Pair of Mason Detroit glass eyed blue wing teal. Great collectors set. Neat signs of use and chip shots. Period: First quarter 20th century Origin: Wisconsin Size: 12" x 4" x 6"H. ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Decoys
Materials
Wood
Life Size Swan Decoy by Reggie Birch
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Full size whistling swan decoy by Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. "R. Birch" carved in underside. A large railroad spike is attached as a balise. Two oak boards have been glued...
Category
Late 20th Century American Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
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A Close Look at Folk-art Furniture
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right Decoys for You
Vintage, new and antique decoys have become fashionable decor in modern homes.
The history of decoy ducks, shorebirds, geese and other waterfowl as part of the folk art tradition stretches back thousands of years. Tule duck decoys made between 400 B.C. and 100 A.D. by Indigenous people for use in hunting have been found in Nevada that are similar to decoys still in use today.
Waterfowl decoys are now often made of plastic and foam, but vintage duck decoys from the mid-19th to early 20th century were frequently made of wood. Canvas duck decoys were popularized from the 1920s to ’40s as a lightweight alternative. These folk art pieces feature hand-painted feathers and long, flat bodies, lending themselves well to display in living rooms on shelves and in cabinets.
One of the fascinating aspects of handcrafted waterfowl decoys is their regional variation to match the local birds. For example, German decoys are regularly decorated with green and gray paints, making them look like mallard ducks. Scandinavian decoys are typically black and white, resembling the common eider.
Either option could be a rustic treasure for one’s home, adding a touch of eclectic art to any room. Browse antique, new and vintage decoys on 1stDibs today.