Chesapeake Decoy Conservation (a fresh outlook on an old paradigm)

My intent set forth in this article is to bring ideas concerning old wood duck decoys, especially upper-Chesapeake bay gunning decoys, into a new perspective.  The current trend with Chesapeake collectors is to trade decoys in a vacuum.  By this I mean that the decoys trade hands almost constantly thru auctions and the internet without almost any thoughts or actions to the decoy preservation or ongoing maintenance.  I  believe that few Chesapeake decoys in collections are given little, if any, material preservation, refurbish, or restoration actions.

Chesapeake bay decoys, in particular the famed Susquehanna flats models, are especially prone to deterioration due to the past heavy market gunning, guide hunting, and severe climatic conditions encountered in bay country.  The heavy moisture laden summer air and extreme humidity are especially conducive to bacterial dry-rot.  I estimate that at least 70% of all Chesapeake decoys are thus affected, even if currently stored in dry conditions.  The affected areas may be small or not readily obvious, but they lurk under coats of swelled paint,  within entry holes for head nails, line ties and weights, and any interior or exterior areas that were exposed to water for lengthy periods in the given decoys respective lifetime.

Like a form of cancer, these bacteria continue to act like rust, eating away incrementally old weak wood fiber.  The resulting decoy decay turns hard wood to soft mealy wood over a period of time. 

Part of the reason that this contemporary state of affairs concerning decoy condition exists is the desire of many collectors for an original condition decoy.  Higher values are placed on original paint and solid decoy structure although these metrics can work against the real value of both high-end and less desirable decoys. Real value is preservation/conservation over a long period of time. Checking and cracking of  wood decoys is common and left as is invites more environmental moisture into the interior of the decoy.  Rotted wood in the head, often within the main nail hole, is easily displaced and further destroyed in shipping or handling if not hardened or stabilized.

There is a tendency for some collectors to downplay the value of what they consider altered or changed upper-Chesapeake decoys.

For the owners of highly prized, excellent condition decoys this reverse model of standardized and accepted decoy decay and destruction works in their favor to give higher value to the top-end birds, that may be examples of excellent condition decoys.  This will continue to be the case, unless more care and attention is given to both highly valued and more common decoys, that will help all Chesapeake/Susquehanna decoys to appreciate over time.

What I propose by museum grade decoys is to further enhance the acceptance of conservation measures through restoration and refurbishment for upper-bay decoys.

Restoration/refurbishment already is well established with museum's and most other decoy collectors from various geographic locations in North America.  In fact, the cottage industry/ semi-factory output of upper-Chesapeake decoys probably was only eclipsed by the high output of Mason factory decoys, which are acceptable as restored or refurbished.

Professional or collector's measures that could be taken to conserve, protect and maintain upper-Chesapeake bay decoys include:

1. Paint removal in areas to expose soft dry-rot wood, so that wood stabilization agents can be applied.

2. Repainting of stabilized wood to protect and extend life of damages areas.

3. Checks and cracks filled, and/or glued to prevent further cracking, and environmental moisture entry.

4. Metal fasteners, iron weights, nails, line ties, etc. cleaned of excess rust and treated to prolong life.

5. Leather line ties treated to prevent further decay and deterioration.

It's fallacy and false economy to pretend that one of the reasons that decoys trade at higher prices, ie, old original condition, is not in and of itself a time bomb for the value and conservation of a folk art resource.

Like the Chesapeake itself, lets not wait any longer, letting the organic infrastructures decline until the point of no return.