Cedar Decoys

Folk Art Preening White Winged Scoter Decoy by Reggie Birch, circa 2000, in the manner of a Gus Wilson Monhegan Island decoy, hand carved of white cedar with neck and head turned back to preen feathers on the back, with carved detail to eyes, bill nares, inlet neck, raised wings and upswept tail; the paint is deliberately distressed and aged to produce a striking patina. The wood is as dried as an antique, and the decoy has been worked to appear well used in the field. One would never suspect this was not an actual antique if not for the prominent signature on the bottom. Reggie Birch is a renowned award-winning decoy carver from Chincoteague Island...

Antique Widgeon Drake Decoy, circa 1940, by J. Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, MA (1862 - 1952), a hand carved and painted Widgeon or Baldpate drake decoy, ...

Vintage Cape Cod Loon Confidence Decoy, circa 1940s, a working decoy in summer plumage, having a hand whittled cedar body, slightly turned head, glass...

Joseph Lincoln black duck drake decoy, (Hingham, MA: 1859-1938), circa 1900, having a sleekly carved head with glass eyes, carved nares and mandible, on solid cedar body. Lincoln's s...

Antique Ward Brothers Widgeon Decoy, Early Period, circa 1920, having a hand whittled solid body in sloping posture, with set at distinct angle to the left, and high mounted thick paddle tail, in very worn original paint. The posture and angle of head give the bird a complacent yet alert attitude. This 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 1920-1921. The decoy is not signed, as is often the case with their work from this period. The decoy is in very good structural condition, with only a few extremely tight age checks on the right side and back, a knot on the right side, and a couple of dents on the tail. The paint is worn pretty well away, but enough remains for character and to be able to identify the species. This decoy has never been restored or repainted in any way. Measures: 6 in high x 14-1/2 in length x 6 in width Lemuel T. Ward, Jr. (1896-1984) and Stephen Ward...