Got these as a gift from my brother in law. Apparently they were his grandfathers - from Youngstown, NY.

Curious if the thought is they were carved by said grandfather or if a commercial line, and roughly the decade they may be from.
Flat bottom, appears to be pine body. Can snap some more photos if needed. Glass eyes on them.

Scaups for sure.

Could be Ken Harris from Lake Ontario, NY
Phil

No idea, but nice blocks.

 
Need better photos.

Could be from Canada, very close by. The style and influence is there. Many decoys made in Canada were used the area.

The carving detail on the back is similar to Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario, (1905 - 1961). Also the style of the head, especially the drake.


my 2 cents











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

That?s a cool gift!
Hunt and fish, fish and hunt,

I'm with Vince Ontario decoy. The only carver on this side of the puddle that I know of would be Julius Mittelstaedt

Thanks tod. I debated using them today in the scaup but the big raft didn't want to commit anyways. Maybe if I had brought them...

I also think the carving of the back on the drake to get the white and black feathers was a unique touch.

Ok, how about this carver after seeing the back, are they solid??
Len Suzor, Pike Creek Decoys, Ontario.
Phil

 
With the new photo's. IMO - "The Rasp Master" Mr. Ken Anger. The man made a helluva great gunning decoy.

If ya want a positive ID get in touch with G&D auction house, and they will give ya the info you need. In original paint, Mr. Anger's decoys bring a tidy sum.

Many of the best decoys are from Canada, and there are many good books about them. Going to the decoy shows, and visiting private collections and seeing and touching the decoys are still the best ways to appreciate them.


You friend is very generous indeed, and you are a very lucky man. By the way Mr. Anger's Black Ducks are killers...


VP











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

If memory serves me right Mr. Suzor, and family were at the Ohio show for many years. Their room was only a few doors from mine, and they always brought huge piles of decoys. Good folks and good decoys.



VP











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

I see 2 wood screws in the bottom on the sides possibly used to hold 2 halves together when gluing up the body
Is this unique to a certain carver? Also looks like a lot of rasping. May help identify the carver.

Whoever made them, they are classy looking stool, for sure. Too bad the keel was removed. Nice gift, for sure!!
george@runamuckdecoys.com

 
DMM,

I'm surprised at you. Many of the decoy dealers at the old Ohio show had Ken Anger decoys for sale. Always out of my price range, but I sure did check em out real good.

Of course you never went to any of the dealer rooms, or in the ballroom. Cuz you were always very busy carving, painting, etc. with the Runamuck Crew. I doubt that ya ever got very much sleep.


VP











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

ken anger as vince said
DHBP Member since May 1999

The drake back had a comb raked through thick white paint on the back. Once it hardens, black is over-painted and sanded off leaving the striations.

Good morning, Nick~


As others have opined, Ken Angier jumped to my mind on first glance. Sweet birds for sure!


All the best,


SJS

Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com

 
If you are unable to see, and appreciate the decoys in person a very good book to get is.


TRADITIONS IN WOOD A HISTORY OF WILDFOWL DECOYS IN CANADA by Patricia Fleming with Thomas Carpenter


You will enjoy it.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

They are made by Cecil Anger. Not Ken. The bodies and bills are decidedly different. I have a few by both carvers and these are Cecil?s. Enjoy them. Great birds.

Ken Anger?s decoys are hollow, crafted of two thick laminated red cedar boards. Anger joined the upper and lower pieces with glue and then drove a wood screw in either side to keep the pieces from shifting while drying. Afterwards, Anger removed the screws, filled in the holes, and inadvertently gave his decoys a unique identity. His cousin Cecil left the screws in and uncovered- the best way to identify either man?s work.

As others have stated, very much in the ballpark of Ken anger

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I never know which is worse: the sorrow when you hit the bird, or the shame when you miss.
http://www.hillmandecoys.com
Mullica Hill NJ

Vince, I collected stuff when it was still possible to hunt over that which i scrounged. I even have an old hen from the RECKLESS that was used when cans reopened back in the dy. Those birds were treated to a mall rig thea their ancestors probably succumbed to a hundred years before.
Never in the market to muck about with
dealers. Generally, too pricey for me!
george@runamuckdecoys.com

 
I agree George, but if ya wanna SEE and STUDY the decoys. The dealers back then had some of the best, that ya can no longer pick up and appreciate. Cuz their in private collections or museums these days..

Unless someone has a collection that you are welcome to peruse, most have to go to a museum to look at the decoys. Just lookin' ain't the same, at least for me.

I feel very fortunate that I was able to see and enjoy so many decoys from every flyway at the old Ohio Show. Very few shows had representations of so many old decoys.

For me the contests were always second, and old decoys first. The old decoys from the various flyways are my major influences, not contest decoys. Your contest decoys are the same as the ones ya gun over, and win blue ribbons with. Ya got yer own style.


Thanks to this forum, I'm still learning.


Best regards
Vince











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Hey Nick - did your BIL share any stories about his grandfather's hunts? I started hunting on L. Ontario in the early 80s and I remember clouds of blue bills on the lake. I would bet that those blocks saw a good amount of action If they could only talk~! Nice looking blocks.

Sadly no, did not. He's not a hunter. I believe it died out with his father