Question for Decoy Carvers

Hugh-P · #1 06-19-2009, 07:05 PM

Actually anyone can answer this question, a leading question. What Carver is credited with carving the first decorative Decoy??

Paul_Guraedy · #2 06-21-2009, 02:18 PM

The question has driven me crazy and into my library. I have looked in every book I have and cannot come upwith anything as far as decorative decoys are concerned. I even went online and could not come up with the info. Lot's of information on working decoys (Wards top the list); but, throw in decorative and............there seems to be a concensus that it is post WWII. So, Hugh I give up....who, when, where?

Hugh-P · #3 06-21-2009, 02:41 PM

Hi Paul, I've written to Guyette and Schmidt, decoy auctioneers, and I can't get an answer either. As far as I can find out, it is either Elmer Crowell or Ward Brothers. But information on a Canadian Carver, Oscar Crowell from Nova Scotia was carving decorative decoys in the 1930's. I thought maybe by posting the question I could get information on this subject on this forum. There was also a Carver from the North of New Brunswick, A Amateur Savoie, a cobbler and barber, that carved decorative decoys. He stamped his feather patterns on with home made stamps of different sizes.

Benjamin · #4 06-21-2009, 05:50 PM

That's a really great question. The ward brothers were doing them for a while, but who knows. Please keep us posted on this one

Hugh-P · #5 06-21-2009, 06:43 PM

I've gained a little more info from this question, and it appears that Elmer Crowell was credited with decoratives around 1910. And there were others that had carved birds with wings out in the late 1800, but not decoys. More information coming to light all the time.

markken5889 · #6 06-23-2009, 08:38 AM

I'm no expert, but from what I've read and seen, I would say Elmer Crowell, given his level of detail and how he worked the paints, as well as his work with miniatures, and how he added in the base as a part of the piece.

Mark

Hugh-P · #7 06-23-2009, 11:10 AM

I'm inclined to agree with you Mark.

markken5889 · #8 06-23-2009, 12:53 PM

Hey Hugh,

BTW, there's a really nice article by Eric Kaiser on a carving Crowell style minature yellowlegs in the Spring '09 Wildfowl Carving magazine.

Mark

Hugh-P · #9 06-23-2009, 08:09 PM

Thanks Mark, I'll have a look .

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