CHESAPEAKE BAY OLD ANTIQUE WOOD DECOYS :
Vintage Antique Old Wooden Duck Decoys from the Upper Chesapeake bay. Collectable Old Decoys from the Chesapeake Old Decoy Collection. Be sure to visit our Articles, Museums, Photojournalism, History and Links sections found no where else on the web. We are your # 1 stop on the Internet for information and research on Chesapeake Bay Decoys.
John Graham 1822 - 1912 Charlestown, MD (circa 1990) John Graham was a very important figure on the Northeast river and is the father of the Charlestown school of Upper-bay decoys. A highly skilled boat builder, Graham produced a number of different accents and styles to his decoy designs. One of the "top five" early carvers of Charlestown, a village of 259 residents in the mid-1880's, Grahams decoy designs set the standard for early decoy models on the Northeast river and were used extensively for market hunting. This decoy is a rare "Bull neck" high shelf model that are few and far between and was procured at the 25th Anniversary Havre de Grace Decoy Festival. Paint seems to be part original and part gunning over paint. Neck has a crack that has been repaired and does not detract from looks of decoy. Great classic Graham with fabulous folk art appeal and superb form. SOLD
George Lockard 1866-1931 Elk Neck, Cecil County, MD (circa late 1800's) Excellent + Most George Lockard decoys were hand chopped and had nostril slots in the bill. George and Henry Lockard were brothers who were both born during the Civil war and lived on Elk neck at a place called Mountain shore. The brothers gunned out of sinkboxes at the mouth of the Northeast river near Cara Cove. Early rare Tack eye model. Has narrow flat section down bottom middle of decoy. Beautiful Chesapeake Folk art piece. Worn original paint with some gunning paint removed. Original weight and rigging. Has mysterious x brand. ? SOLD
Jim Holly 1855-1935 Havre de Grace, MD. (circa 1900) Excellent + Wood Wing ducks are hard to find as friction between the flat bottom of decoy and the sinkbox wood and/or canvas, wore the paint and let water into bottom of decoy, causing rot. After the outlawing of the sinkbox in 1935 staples and/or extended flat wood bottoms would be put on many of these decoys to used in regular decoy spreads. The poor performance of these decoys due to lack of lower chine keel and rounded bottom caused many to be discarded or used for firewood. 85% original paint. Rare Jim Holly Cecil county neck shelf and body hump. Mellow warm bird. SOLD
Extremely nice early Jim Currier 1886-1969 Havre de Grace, Harford county, MD (circa 1940) Excellent + Currier hand chopped his decorative type decoys and died just before the decoy folk art renaissance of the 1970's. Beautiful and really classy bird. Wing pattern visible on lower back. Completely sound structural condition. All original hard wear. Professional removal of old gunning paint. Fantastic presence, artistic display and gallery grade ambiance. SOLD
John "Jonny Hunp" Glen 1876-1951 Rock, Hall. Kent county, MD (circa 1925) Excellent + Considered by many to be the father of the Rock Hall school of carving. Hump Glen's farm was named the Decoy farm and was a going concern between Glen and his wife. They were known to have re-painted 5000 decoys in one rough winter season. Glens decoys had a distinct Sea gull looking head and wonderful shaped body that was seemed built for choppy rough water. The Cedar Point gun club was a regular customer of Glens. This decoy is Excellent with a streamlined body, exceptional fine carving and form with at least 85% original paint. A few shot in body and head and original hardware. Classy wide body bird. SOLD
Sam Barnes 1857-1926 Havre de Grace, MD. (circa 1900) Excellent + Canvasback pair. Early vintage. Great shape. Hand Chopped with original weights. Barnes decoy are important "bridge" decoys between Holly's and later carvers. Barnes elongated deep chine design paved the way for both improved functionally and forerunners of the decorative trend. Later Barnes decoys took on a streamlined shape that was prototypical for 20th century Susquehanna decoys, but seldom equaled. Aircraft designer Glen L. Martin seems to have favored Barnes and Ward decoys. Barnes decoys won "Best in Show" at early 1924 decoy exhibition in New York. Drake is original paint, Duck looks like gunning over paint, but could be original. SOLD
Sam Barnes 1857 - 1926 Havre de Grace, MD. (circa 1910) Excellent Canvasback pair. Sam Barnes was an important seminal carver on the Susquehanna flats. His decoys were an important bridge between the old school and new school Havre de Grace style. A close collaborator and friend of Jim Holly. Barnes created a practical true working decoy block with style that was awarded "Best in Show" at the 1924 2nd Annual Decoy Exposition at Winchester sportsman expo in New York. Decoys are old gunning paint by Barnes with intact wing patterns, which are getting harder to find. Photo shows Historic Principio Furnace decoy anchor weights and Skipjack hawser chain. SOLD