Chesapeake bay vintage working wood duck decoys :
Chesapeake bay canvasback working decoy form and structure development:
Below are examples of three diverse Chesapeake bay Canvasbacks. The first one is a John Graham, of the late 1800's. It is very lightweight, small and round. This type of decoy was common on the Chesapeake before the turn of the 20th century. They did not ride or track very well and often tipped over and stayed over when being deployed, and had to be righted. From the waterman's perspective, the shape and design of the decoy at this time period was of a utilitarian nature only.
Improvements were not needed in the appearance of the decoy, but only for easy of use and function in the water. The second decoy is a Sam Barnes, which takes on a modern elongated and sharper profile on the sides (Chine). This decoy model was able to handle higher winds and seas than the Graham model, and stay on track into the wind. It has also been said that the flat sides of the Barnes decoy were there by design to help keep the decoy line from slipping off the decoy in transit.
The third decoy is a John Glenn decoy from the Rock Hall area of Chesapeake bay. This decoy is very wide and flat and is near perfection as a decoy built to ride the waves, self-right when being deployed and stay upright at all times. It is a beautiful example of function and form combined to the highest degree. The design seems mimic the effect of the famed Dory skiff. Like the Dory, the upswept chine and wide beam to length ratio ensures that the decoy will ride out almost any weather.
John Graham (circa 1890's)
Sam Barnes (circa 1920)
John Glenn (circa 1930)