Collector Questions: Handmade Duck Decoy Takes Flight in Value
This handmade decoy may no longer float on the water, but its craftsmanship and character still make waves with collectors.
Q: I have an heirloom from a dear friend of mine. This originally belonged to his grandfather and was passed down through his family until he left it at my home. I was wondering how much this would be worth?
A: Your antique, handmade duck decoy appears to be a stylized representation of a White-winged scoter duck or a Stejneger’s scoter duck, as suggested by several key features. The white wing patch, which corresponds to the white secondary feathers, is characteristic of White-winged and Stejneger’s scoters. The black body and the painted white crescent near the eye match the typical plumage and distinctive markings of male scoters. Males of these species also have a knob at the base of their bill, which is a distinctive feature of the male and helps to distinguish them from the female; females do not have the knob. Your decoy does not have the knob. Therefore, this decoy is a functional and collectible piece rather than an exact replica of a specific duck species, as decoys often simplify or exaggerate features for visibility and durability during hunting.
The base of your decoy bears a number of holes that would align with the attachment of a keel—this indicates that the decoy was made to be used rather than made as a decorative item. The keel was probably removed when the decoy became a shelf or table ornament to ensure that it sat flat. The keel guaranteed that the decoy remained upright and facing into the wind; it also provided a place to secure an anchor line.
Your decoy is a very attractive piece, and in the right venue, it could be worth $400.00 to $450.00.
Do you have a question for Collector’s Gallery? Send your questions and photos via e-mail to ATNews@aimmedia.com. Please include as much pertinent information about your item as possible, including size, condition, history, and anything else that might help in identifying and valuing it.
Our guest appraiser is Dr. Anthony Cavo, a certified appraiser of art and antiques and a contributing editor to Kovels Antique Trader. Cavo is also the author of Love Immortal: Antique Photographs and Stories of Dogs and Their People.
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Dr. Anthony J. Cavo is an honors graduate of the Asheford Institute of Antiques and a graduate of Reisch College of Auctioneering. He has extensive experience in the field of buying and selling antiques and collectibles. Cavo is also the author of Love Immortal: Antique Photographs and Stories of Dogs and Their People.