Will Kirkpatrick's Decoy Shop

Someone once said that the only thing New England decoys have in common is that they are all different. The rich variety of the region's decoys reflects Yankee individualism and ingenuity. However, as one becomes familiar with New England carvings, patterns of regional specialization and schools of influence become apparent. New England has strongly influenced decoy carving in Virginia and the Maritime Provinces of Canada.

1. Folger Eskimo Curlew - 12-3/4 " long, carved wing, glass eyes, and satin-like, hand-rubbed antique finish. $140.00 (Item #9) DISCONTINUED
   During the mid 1800's, Franklin Folger and other members of his famous Nantucket whaling family made a big shorebird rig of about a hundred decoys. This is a copy of one of only twelve Eskimo curlews in that rig. Eskimo curlews were a delicacy and were hunted almost to extinction by 1880. Therefore, Eskimo curlew decoys are sure to be old and rare. A rigmate to the original Eskimo curlew sold at auction in 1986 for $15,000.
2. Nantucket Chevy - 10" long, applied Carved wings, tack eyes, and distressed patina. $120.00 (Item #10) DISCONTINUED
   This is an accurate copy of a golden plover carved by a Nantucket gunner in the mid 1800's. Besides being an effective hunting aid, its design precedes that of the 1957 Chevrolet by a hundred years!
3. Nantucket Rocker - 9" long, on reinforced neck, cut-nail bill, tack eyes, heavily distressed patina. $65.00 (Item #8) DISCONTINUED
   Dating from the early 1800's, the "rocker" type of shorebird is one of the earliest used on Nantucket. Nantucket decoys tend to be scarce because these frugal Yankees took good care of their rigs and passed them along to succeeding generations.
4. Vineyard Sandpiper - 7-1/2" long, carved hardwood bill, stippled paint, heavily distressed patina. $65.00 (Item #73) DISCONTINUED
   With its upright stance and split tail, rough little decoy looks like many Massachusetts shorebirds. The original carver is unknown, but his sense of proportion and understanding of avian anatomy is faultless.

1. Nichols Feeder - 12-3/4" long, glass eyes, carved wings, separate tailpiece, carved hardwood bill, distressed patina. $160.00 (Item #37) DISCONTINUED
   Fed Nichols (1854-1924) of Lynn, Mass. Made only one shorebird rig. But, what a rig!. The shapes and paint were outstanding; the tail construction was clever and innovative, and the stick holes were even lined to protect against rot and wear. This is Will's accurate reproductions of Nichol's Work.
2. Connecticut Yellowlegs - 13" long, rusty tack eyes, wire bill, and carved wing tip, heavily distressed. $85.00 (Item #55) DISCONTINUED
   Connecticut shorebird decoys are primitive. Carvers concentrated on duck decoys, many of which have become classics. This reproduction is typical of the roughly fashioned but graceful original.
3. Lincoln Yellowlegs - 11" long, tack eyes, rough carved, dowel reinforced neck, stippled paint, heavily distressed. $85.00 (Item #42) DISCONTINUED
   A shoemaker by trade, Joe Lincoln produced many expertly crafted ducks and goose decoys. But, shorebirds attributed to him are crudely carved. The marked variation in techniques has caused many to question their true origin. Experts believe the shorebirds were Lincoln's earliest work.
4. Duxbury Peep - 6" long, tack eyes, nail bill, wire stick, distressed patina. $55.00 (Item #13) DISCONTINUED
   Market hunters of the 1800's sold peeps for $1.00 per hundred, and many sandpipers found their way into a "peep pie." The original decoy was found in Duxbury, Massachusetts, and its talented creator remains unknown. No two peeps are exactly alike; each has a personality of his own.
5. Truro Sleeper - 9" long, split-tail carving, glass eyes, integral bill carving, extra fancy paint, distressed patina. $110.00 (Item #74) Put bird in bag
   This unusual bird is from a rig found in a Truro antique shop on Cape Cod. The method used to carve and paint the original is technically sophisticated and not typical of Cape Cod decoys. Carving the corner between the neck and body requires rarely used gouges. The paint work is not simple stippling, but an atypical attempt to delineate feather groups.
6. Mass Bay Curlew - 15-1/2" long, tack eyes, carved hardwood beak, and distressed patina. $145.00 (Item #15) DISCONTINUED
   Will's inspiration for this bird comes from a decrepit whimbrel decoy that he examined at a Cape Cod auction. The form of the reproduction follows the original; the paint is based on Will's knowledge of old New England decoys. This graceful decoy has the wing and odd neck carving found on many of the region's shorebirds.
7. Burr Lesser Yellowlegs - 10-1/2" long, cut-nail bill, glass eyes, split tail carving, two position stick holes, distressed patina. $95.00 (Item #6) DISCONTINUED
   The style of Elisha Burr of Hingham, Massachusetts is unique among decoy carvers. When viewed at close range, his birds assume an almost clownish character; when seen from a distance, though, they jump to life with outstanding realism. Burr had the ability to instill not only form buy also action into his carvings.
8. Same as above. Other stick hole position.

1. Lincoln Greater Yellowlegs - 12" long, distressed patina. $115.00 (Item #41) Put bird in bag
   Shoemaker by trade, Joe Lincoln (1859-1938) of Hingham, Mass. Carved into his 70's. This bird is typical of the style that characterizes his later shorebirds. The paint work is unusual: He used thin washes instead of thick layers. The shape is anatomically truer and the finish smoother than his earlier decoys.
2. Boyd Yellowlegs - 11" long, distressed patina. $140.00 (Item #43) DISCONTINUED
   George Boyd (1873- 1941) Seabrook, New Hampshire was a contemporary of Joe Lincoln and Elmer Crowell. At various times, they all worked in booming local shoe factories, and incorporated some production practices into their decoy making. For example they made decoys in batches, dividing the work into skillfully performed specialized tasks. This decoy is a reproduction of a badly damaged original in Will's personal collection. The high forehead and squared off head are hallmarks of Boyd's work.

The carvings of Elmer Crowell(1862-1952) of East Harwich, Mass. closely parallel the evolution of waterfowling in the Northeast. He carved the first crude decoys as a boy when game was plentiful and sophisticated techniques unnecessary. In this middle years, he clanged his style to fill the needs of the casual hunter. Works of this period are considered excellent examples of American folk art. His final work, accomplished when he was the acknowledged "Master of Shorebird Carvers," enters the realm of fine art.

1. Crowell Yellowlegs - 13" long, carved hardwood bill, glass eyes, extra fancy paint, distressed patina. $115.00 (Item #75) DISCONTINUED
   This is Crowell's standard gunning grade yellowlegs. Compared to his earlier work, the refined form indicates a talent of growing sophistication.
2. Crowell Runner - 12-1/2" long, split tail carving, glass eyes, hardwood beak, lightly distressed extra fancy paint work. $115.00 (Item #5) DISCONTINUED
   In the early days, Massachusetts carvers varied the posture and attitudes of their decoys to give their "set" the illusion of movement. This decoy demonstrates Crowell's use of this clever technique.
3. Western Sandpiper - 7" long, glass eyes, lightly distressed patina. $90.00 (Item #78) DISCONTINUED
   Because Will highly regards Crowell's early working decoys, he has scrutinized his technique. Crowell never made a western sandpiper decoy; they are are on the Atlantic coast. If he had, Will believes it might have looked like this one.
4. Crowell Peep - 7" long, split tail carving, tack eyes, hardwood bill, extra fancy paint, distress patina. $90.00 (Item #44) DISCONTINUED
   This beautiful little sandpiper is a gunning grade sanderling decoy. Crowell also carved highly detailed "mantel" birds for wealthy tourists. His knowledge of bird anatomy is evident in the original, as well as in Will's reproduction.

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