Chesapeake Wings Decoys Classic Fine Wildfowl Decoys in Wood
Welcome to the Chesapeake Wings Old Decoy Carving shack. Have a seat by the cherry red wood stove and set a while. Take a load off, it's always warm here. Let the spirit of the old watermen carvers guide you along a virtual tour of the folk art investment grade waterfowl decoys that have been hand carved and crafted by Master Decoy Carver Mike Robinson. Below you will find the finest traditional reproduction gunning and interpretive Chesapeake decoys from the most renown decoy carvers in the Chesapeake bay region from the mid 1800's up to the 1950's. Heritage and meticulous research into the history and methods of carving the worlds finest shootin' stool vintage waterfowl decoys makes possible not only exact reproductions of world famous Chesapeake folk art decoys but interpretive analysis of the many models and makes, including some that no longer exist.
We take checks and have secure VISA and MASTERCARD either direct by phone thru our credit card terminal or thru PAY PAL. Payment plans and Layaway accepted Huge Discounts Available due to the economy. 907-561-5739
ORDER HERE : akimage@gci.net 1-907-561-5739
Chesapeake Wings Decoys
Below are decoys that are carved by Mike Robinson : see my Decoy Carving philosophy HERE
Custom carving available. All sold decoys can be recreated. Hollow or Solid. Shootin' stool or Folk Art decorative. Repair and appraisal services available.
Ward 1936 Hollow Drake Mallard Sleeper. Reproduction Ultra Hollow block with hollow head. Long wide body. $965
Ward 1936 Hollow Mallard Drake. Over the years I have carved Ward repo Mallards more than any other Ward decoy. There is much speculation concerning the 36 and 42 models and also models in the early 30's. Rather than attributing various model years to body shape, tail type and head patterns it may be more instructive to acknowledge that the Wards carved styles and models within a time period according to the type and amount of wood that was available to them. Square tails for example show up as early as the late 1920's Bishop Head models again in the mid 1930's and is repeated in the 42 mallard model. Was this intentional or was it the result of thicker, shorter wood blocks that were available or wood blocks that were narrow and long. Good wood was often scarce for all Chesapeake bay decoy carvers, and that is probably why the Wards went to abundant Balsa available during and after World War II from Navy Balsa life rafts. Ultra light decoy with hollow head. $875
Ward 1936 Mallard Drake. This exact replica decoy Mallard preener closely shows the form and color of a Ward Mallard of this time period. Add in that the hollow decoy weighs less than a few ounces and you have a truly fine folk art decoy. The Wards need no introduction as they simply were the alpha and omega of 20th century decoy carving. $965
Ward 1927 Bishops head club ridge back Canada Goose. This reproduction decoy by Mike Robinson is an exact replica of this famous and rare Ward Goose. It has all the markers including High ridge back, apron tail, ice groove on back and finely done white head patch. This block has aged paint of the period and is realistic, not the typical aging seen on many contemporary Chesapeake decoys. This is a very fine example of an American folk art, floating sculpture contemporary decoy. This Bishops Head club was a famous Chesapeake Bay waterfowl hunting club on Maryland's Eastern shore that lured many political, business and sports luminaries of the day including Glen L. Martin founder of what is now Lockheed Martin, Walter Chrysler and many more. $1600
Ward/Robinson Hybrid Hollow Sleeping Pintail. This drake Pintail is part of the "Hay Flats Series" . These are the worlds lightest wood decoys hollowed out to tolerances that do not exceed one quarter inch (1/4) in thickness of the wood. Many original Delaware hollow decoys for example, known for their light weight, were in the range of a full inch to one half inch in thickness. Sleek and racy profile. Ward style stage 2 stipple paint and pinch breast. What makes this decoy so unique is the extreme light weight, pinch breast and very soft finish that gives a "flocked" appearance. All trademarks of Chesapeake Wings Decoys. Note lifelike display of decoy pair. Sleeper drake is in breeding plumage. SOLD
Ward Classic 1933 Pintail. Hollow reproduction very finely done. Stage 2 stipple paint with fine feathering on wings. At the Easton, Maryland auction a 36 original Ward Pintail pair recently sold for over a $125,000 I believe. Beautiful built in patina with light gunning use look. Turned and canted head with wide crown, bill nail and finely contoured 1930-36 era style breast, but not classic full 1932 pinch breast. Ward Pintails of this era exhibit the very best of style of all North American waterfowl decoys. SOLD
Ward Brothers 1930's Hollow Pintail. This bird is a "open water decoy, Air weight hollow. Large "bull neck" Drake Pintail. This shootin' stool from my own rig had some use this season, but is almost new. Turned and canted head with pinch breast. Ward Pintail side winglets. Ward semi-beaver style tail. (note: I believe that 1920's beaver style tails may have still been used on some late 20's and early 1930's Ward Pintail blocks instead of a direct transition into the pointed tail usually credited to only the early 30's style decoys) A compromise seems to be reached in the 36 models.) SOLD
WARD Brothers mid 1930's Hollow Hen Mallards. These shootin' stools are from my own Mallard rig. This type of decoy was still being made in 1936 and close sisters to the coveted "36" models. Both birds differ slightly in paint and form. The preener at top has round feather marking on the bottom of the tail for example and the lower decoy has hash marks. Both of these were used by Lem Ward. The lower decoy had the orange and white blended wing feathers, multi colored bill and a darker ambiance overall. These reproduction replicas are very hollow and ride high and proud in the water increasing visibility. Imagine a small rig of these as your decoy rig. Relive the heritage. Bring back the good ol' days of the world famous Chesapeake bay as only a replica pair of Wards can do. Be one of the rare few able to re-live the ultimate wildfowlers dream come true, gunning with the worlds best decoys. SOLD
Yukon Kuskoquim Special. Fat Jaw Alert Hollow Drake Pintail. Ultra light with fine feathering, bill nail and pinch breast. Nice soft finish/patina. Ward Heritage in the worlds lightest wood decoy. Unique stylish floating sculpture. The Yukon Kuskoquim is in Alaska and is one of the worlds largest waterfowl producing areas. If you hunt waterfowl in many parts of the U.S., you have hunted birds from the YK delta. SOLD
Jim Holly Decorative Canvasback Pair. Beautiful and superb Jim Holly Replica Upper-bay Cans. Circa 1900. Own a reproduction pair of the most famous decoys from the Chesapeake bay. There was only 1 pair of these ever made by Holly, are priceless and the last time I looked resided in the Haver de Grace Decoy Museum. Deceptively a daunting challenge to correctly carve and paint, many hours went into this pair to evoke the spirt of the Susquehanna flats that at the time resided the greatest concentration of Cans in North America. I made the wings on the drake a little darker as I think the decoy looks a little better with more contrast and the grey closely approximates the grey color of a real "Canvas" back. Both decoys have a subtle racy appearance. Maryland Decoy historian John Sullivan said the original pair were the finest decoys he ever held in his hands. Drake has subtle raised wing carving. Hen has proper indented (ice dip) or divided wing impression back. Finest select wood and premium paint. All Hand chopped and crafted the old Chesapeake way. $2300
Ward Brothers 1936 Hollow Oversize Mallard. This reproduction decoy is from my own rig and has ballast weight and leather line tie. Very Hollow flyweight decoy that really brings in the birds from my rig of Ward 36 mallard and Bishops Head Club stools. Gunned over, but not overly worn. Perfect floater with correct proper balance that creates a live duck look much better than modern plastic decoys and weights less too. Ward style Hollow wood decoys, properly weighted, bob, weave, turn and act alive in the slightest wind. There is nothing that can take a body back to the spirit of the good ol' days of waterfowl hunting than gunning over a rig of the the worlds best decoys recreated in form and function from the worlds best gunning decoy makers. Relive the real spirit of Chesapeake Waterfowlin' not possible any other way except from replica decoys with built in age from Gods own decoy carvers. Beautiful Reproduction models and designs from the World famous Ward brothers. Ask me about special prices on a half or full dozen of any species. SOLD
Ward/Robinson Hybrid Mallard. This Decoy falls in the "Hay Flats Special" series. Ultra light hollow including head and tail. A great decoy I owned a few years ago was a Charlie Jointer Mallard given as a present to Lem and Steve Ward in the 60's. This decoy was an Ida Ward keepsake and deeply undervalued as it is a very important decoy in the Chesapeake Bay decoy model historical chronology. I used the great bill design of the Jointer mallard for this decoy. Rounded flat bottom. Line keeper keel. Ultra flat paint with just the right amount of "kick" like all Chesapeake Wings shootin' stool decoys. SOLD
Barrier Island Shorebird group. These Curlews are a gunning set following mostly Cobb island models but have a few influences from a few nearby islands. A set like this of at least 6 would have been in the Shorebird hunters kit before Shorebird hunting was outlawed in 1918. Maybe we could envision a family group with junior in the middle? Nice sand colored wood slab adds a touch of realism. Tree branch bills are all removable. Birds are mostly the same but all in subtle ways vary. The bird on the left has an indented wing divide, the middle bird a carved wing set and the last bird a different bill type and more narrow profile. Very realistic aging here with shot holes and a few authentic looking cracks in the old papa bird on the left. Decoys can be turned on their stands. $1560
Left bird #1
Middle bird #2
Right bird #3
Jim Holly Black Duck. Early 1900's model. Holly black ducks of this grade were given as "Christmas duck" presents along with other species to neighbors and relatives. Blair school form and decoy conformation is evidenced in this decoy. Nice scratch painting and a fine patina here with Holly snaky head. This replica is sure to please a collector looking a wonderful example of the upper-Chesapeake master. Scratch painting on head and body. Beautiful decoy stool with style and grace. SOLD
Ira Hudson Green Winged Teal. Very nice repro Hudson football Teal made to look like a member of the very rare J.B.Smithman rig. There is only one real drake to my knowledge and a few hens. There were also some higher headed Teal models from the same general time frame of 1930 that had paint schemes totally different from this piece and I gave this one an in between head height in a slightly swimming or reaching pose with a determined and somewhat angry Hudson attitude. It also has nail holes from where the unique bottom cover decoy weight would have been, these surround the bottom of the decoy. Tack eye. Perfectly balanced football body. Rocks to and fro and acts alive. Has very authentic looking Hudson spokeshave marks. SOLD
Ward Swimming Black Duck (semi-hollow). This reproduction decoy is a very early 1920's Ward style Black Duck. Large decoy with nice scratch paint on body and very fine scratch paint on head. There are very few of the original early Ward Black Ducks in existence and they seldom come to market. A later 1928 model can be seen in the Ward book "Timeless Treasures". Decoy has auger holes in the bottom like the Wards used on occasion for lightness. This piece has orange color cast on body like Lem Ward used for a realistic Black duck look. Large wide bill like original. SOLD
Lem Dudley style Canada Goose. Lem was from Knotts Island North Carolina. I don't wander far from the Chesapeake Bay in my Decoy making, but since I used to fish with my uncle down to Cape Hatteras and my sister lives and collects decoys in N.C. , I make a few birds from this area. The Dudley decoy's are very old (circa late 1890's) very folky birds. I believe there is only 1 of these in existence in a museum. This one is made with a removable head as some were I believe from my research. Head is inletted, pegged with a fire hardened pine peg and then locked in place with a hardwood oak block and pin. The back end of the base of the neck inlets deep into the middle body so that the head is quite impossible to remove without taking out the block and pegged head. This is a large Goose with a high head. Chesapeake Wings decoy brand like all of my decoys. SOLD
Hog Island Fat Running Dowitcher. This fatty has very nice conformation and excellent paint. Paint has a suburb craquelure patina finish that serious collectors look for and does not look like poured sugar in the paint like on some Southern Chesapeake shorebird reproductions. The ageing is beyond reproach and looks like the real thing would on a 1800's era shorebird decoy. Cedar base adds a nice touch for display. SALE PENDING
Flat out running Curlew. This type of Curlew were unique to Smith Island. Fairly large shore bird with nice naturally curved tree branch bill. Nice folky painted period wing and body. Comes with weathered square driftwood base. Tack eye. Decoy looks like it is moving even though is it just a shorebird decoy. SOLD
Ready to dive root head feeding Canvasback. The cocked head feeding/diving unique head style complements this very early Lower Chesapeake Barrier Island design. Very Early Cobb island type form. Decoys don't come any more folk art and elemental than this one. I imagine that a carver found an old beam from a wrecked sailing ship and that a decoy like this was carved very fast and the naturally weathered flat back depicts this. Neck has been inlet into body with hand auger , the same type tool used in pioneer America. Hand chopped and cut with very old looking paint and age with some shot holes. Looks 160 years old but photo does not give proper impression. Two piece Root head has very little carving except for bill. A fine reproduction Folk Art decoy by Mike Robinson $825
I have patterns for all the above decoys and others and can recreate any of them with a down-payment. Call or e-mail for prices. Patterns include Hudson thin-necked shorebirds, Hudson Marsh ducks and Divers. Ward 1918 Blackhead (scaup), Canvasback. Early Folk Susquehanna "Flattie" Canvasback, 1920's Ward redhead, Cobb, Hog Island and Hudson Geese/Brant, " Crisfield Kid " Canvasback, All Ward Bishops Head club species including geese and much more including various upper-bay carvers. Barrier Island Shorebirds and etc.
E-mail : akimage@gci.net