Will Kirkpatrick's Decoy Shop

As leisure time became more available during the last half of the 1800's, market hunters saw the arrival of an army of well-to-do sportsmen. Demand for decoys increased dramatically. The country was in the throes of the post Civil War Industrial age, and, inevitably, decoy factories sprouted up here and there. Decoy was a hub for this activity. Those decoys, today, might well be called "factory folk art." The following decoys are Will's reproductions of a few of the Detroit factory decoys.

1. Detroit Factory Curlew - 13-1/2 inches long, two-piece construction, wire bill, glass eyes, fancy stippled and striped paint work. $150.00 (Item #14) DISCONTINUED
   Deemed by some to be the "king" of all of the factory decoys, this magnificent curlew is truly regal in carriage. When it was first made, it was considered by managers of gunning camps and market gunners to be merely a tool of the trade. They were carelessly handled in difficult conditions and many were broken and discarded. Today Folk art collectors, decorators, and decoy aficionados compete to pay thousands of dollars each for these curlews. This reproduction will provide the same enjoyment for a fraction of the cost of an original.
2. Detroit Factory Dowitcher - 10-3/4 inches long, glass eyes, fancy paint work, and distressed patina. $90.00 (Item #50) DISCONTINUED
   This is Will's copy of a commonly found dowitcher decoy. It is a more streamlined version of the funky ball-headed model this factory first produced. The tail detail was nothing more than an easy way to cut the lathe turned body from its waste butt. It was swan off to shape, and therefore, did not need to be carved to shape. It also had a carved wooden bill instead of the usual spike bill originally used. Dowitchers, along with other red breasted shorebirds were commonly called "robin snipe" by local baymen. So this decoy is colorful compared to most.
3. Detroit Factory Blue Winged Teal Drake - 11 inches long, glass eyes, detailed bill carving, fancy paint work, and distressed patina. $195.00 (Item #51) DISCONTINUED
   This is a hand carved reproduction of a factory made decoy. Will say's the carving of the bird is relatively easy and is quickly accomplished. Will's theory is that the bird was machined carved from a hand carved master made by an accomplished decoy maker. This poor fellow is lost to history. Teals are somewhat rare compared to the larger mallard and canvasback decoys that have been found. Teals carry rich colors and are a pleasure to look at whether they are alive and swimming, or if they are perched on a mantel over a fireplace.
4. Detroit Factory Wood Duck - 11-3/4 inches long, glass eyes, fancy colorful paintwork, and lightly distressed patina.- $195.00 (Item #49) DISCONTINUED
   This bright wood duck is Will's rendition of a rare, three-quarter sized wood duck. It was made by a Detroit decoy factory to be easily carried as a salesman's sample. It carries all of the detail of the master decoy it represents regardless of its small size.

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