COOTEd Snyder (1928-2011)
Rio Vista,CA, c. 1970
11 in. long
An excellent decorative by one of the Golden State's premier decoy makers. This hollow coot has finely incised wing detail, a super thin tail, and...
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SLEEPING PINTAIL PAIREd Snyder (1928-2011)
RioVista, CA, c. 1970
16 in. long
This hollow pair has fine painted feather detail and the maker's signature on the inlayed bottom boards.
Original paint with light wear.
Provenance:...
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HIGH-HEAD PINTAILEd Castagnetto (1911-1996)
SanFrancisco, CA, 1989
17 1/2 in. long
Taught by California carving legend, "Fresh-Air Dick" Janson, Ed learned to carve as a young man. He was also a sharp shooter who enjoyed...
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PINTAIL PAIRJohn B. Winter (1905-1981)
Burlingame,CA, c. 1945
16 in. long
Winter made waterfowl decoys for his hunting in the Sacramento Valley. Balsa-bodied decoys, such as this pair, were carved from decommissioned military...
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MALLARD PAIRScott Cork Decoy Company(1927-1954)
Oakland, CA, c. 1930
15 in. long
Reece Scott (1871-1955) founded this company in Oakland. This influential California establishment specialized in the fabrication...
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CANVAS CACKLING GOOSEBurley Earl Russell(1891-1984)
Stockton, CA, c. 1935
22 in. long
Russell was one of the first to create the canvas-kapok decoys and was also the most accomplished. A talented carpenter and...
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PINTAIL PAIRWright Decoy Company
Berkeley,CA, c. 1935
15 in. long
Linley A. Wright (1889-1946) was a machinist who ran a decoy manufacturing company from his home. The decoys were made using five pieces of redwood...
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CANVASBACK DRAKEJoseph Carolus Roesling(1862-1944)
Alameda, CA, c. 1910
15 in. long
Born in Wisconsin, Roesling brought his Midwest carving sensibilities to the Bay Area when he moved there in 1906. He carved...
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CANVASBACK DRAKE"Dick" Allen (1891-1971)
Vallejo,CA, c. 1925
14 1/2 in. long
Allen hunted San Francisco Bay and the Delta for over fifty years, carving decoys for his own use. Under the fine form is a flush-poured weight...
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BLUEBILL PAIRHarry L. Cook (1909-1993)
Vallejo,CA, c. 1930
11 3/4 in. long
A well-documented turned-head pair by Harry Cook. A lifelong resident of Vallejo, California, he worked for his father's painting business starting...
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GREEN-WINGED TEALRay Baliel (1910-1979)
RioVista, CA, c. 1935
11 1/2 in. long
"The dramatic swept-back heads and very life-like appearances have few equals in California," writes California decoy historian Michael...
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MALLARD DRAKESan Francisco, CA, c. 1940
15in. long
This gouge-carved decoy relates to the work of John Tornberg (1902-1971) and may very well be the carver's later work. Tornberg lived in the Marina district of San...
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PINTAIL"Fresh Air Dick" Janson (1872-1951)
Sonoma,CA, c. 1915
18 in. long
A classic early Janson decoy with raised wing tips and a flat bottom. This decoy may have been used in Janson's early market-gunning rig prior to...
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PINTAIL PAIR"Fresh Air Dick" Janson(1872-1951)
Sonoma, CA, c. 1930
17 in. long
Recognized as one of California’s greatest decoy carvers, Janson was also a commercial fisherman, a ship carpenter, and a professional...
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COOTLuigi Andreuccetti (1898-1978)
Vorden,CA, c. 1940
9 1/2 in. long
A well-documented coot decoy with a large body and slightly turned head. It appears to have the maker's signature affixed to the underside along...
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PINTAIL PAIRLuigi Andreuccetti (1898-1978)
Vorden,CA, 1948
17 1/2 in. long
In the "The Great Book of Waterfowl Decoys," the West Coast contributor Gerald Rosenthal introduces Andreuccetti as "the Sacramento stylist." In...
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CANVASBACK PAIRLeo Tocchini (1904-1989)
Oakland,CA, c. 1945
17 in. long
A magnum pair of balsa canvasbacks. The hen bears the maker's "LT" signature brand, while the drake has a "V" or "L" brand on the underside.
Drake...
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FEEDING PINTAIL PAIRHarold "Pappy" Kidwell(1895-1982)
Berkeley, CA, c. 1980
20 in. long
This well-documented pair of rare feeding pintails in two poses were made by one of California's more colorful characters, who...
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MALLARD PAIRHorace "Hi" Crandall (1892-1969)
Westwood,CA, c. 1935
16 1/2 in. long
A slightly turned-head rigmate pair. The hen has a slightly uplifted head.
Original paint with light gunning wear.
Provenance: Les Vache Collection,...
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PINTAIL HENHorace "Hi" Crandall (1892-1969)
Westwood,CA, c. 1935
15 in. long
Crandall was an outdoorsman, a taxidermist, and a talented watercolor painter at a young age. After moving California in 1917, Crandall was an engineer...
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RARE SWANWilliam "Bill" Neal (1924-2014)
BlackPoint, CA, c. 1976
31 in. long
"Bill Neal," writes Miller "...was one of California's great decoy carvers." Carving augmented his income as a house painter. Before heading...
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SWIMMING BRANTPaul F. Keeney (1897-1965)
Oakland,CA, c. 1935
20 1/2 in. long
Keeney hunted brant in Humboldt County and possibly Tomales Bay. This swimmer was made with seven-piece body construction and is outfitted with...
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THE CRANDALL SLEEPY-EYED MALLARDHorace"Hi" Crandall (1892-1969)
Westwood, CA, c. 1935
15 in. long
One of California's best decoy carvers, Crandall is also considered by some to be its best painter. Born in Rhode...
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CANADA GOOSEEd Vidmar (1922-1991)
Pittsburg,CA, c. 1951
25 in. long
Early collectible Canada geese by named makers from California are difficult to source. This classic Vidmar goose displays fine paint and a grand...
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MALLARD DRAKEArt Jensen
Hayward, CA,c. 1952
14 in. long
A distinctly Jensen mallard with a turned head, raised wings, and a pleasing carved wing and feather design in its balsa body. This drake is illustrated...
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CINNAMON TEALArt Jensen
Hayward, CA,c. 1950
12 in. long
A refined teal with a turned head, raised wings, and a pleasing carved wing and feather design. Jensen was a painter as well as a hunter and a decoy carver....
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LOS BANOS PINTAIL DRAKELos Banos, CA,c. 1925
17 1/2 in. long
This decoy hails from an elite group by a highly celebrated, yet unknown maker. They have been referred to as the "Los Banos Unknowns" nodding to...
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DUCK AND BRANT PATTERNSGeorge WilliamMcLellan (1897-1987)
Eureka, CA
McLellan's duck and floating brant patterns, including some highly intricate head patterns and design and construction notes and dates. This...
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FLYING BRANT PATTERNSGeorge WilliamMcLellan (1897-1987)
Eureka, CA, c. 1940
23 1/2 in. long
A lot of intricate patterns from McLellan's famous flying brant rig, including a wing-frame construction.
As found.
Provenance:...
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FLYING BRANTGeorge William McLellan(1897-1987)
Eureka, CA, c. 1941
24 in. long, 41 in. wingspan
One of only nine flying decoys originally created for this legendary rig. Few would argue that Bill McLellan’s...
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MICHAEL WHEELER (AMERICAN B. 1952) APAINTING, "SPRING ...MICHAEL WHEELER (American b. 1952) A PAINTING, "Spring Reflection," 1998, oil on canvas, signed L/R; 39 1/4'' x 29 1/4'', framed 48'' x 38 1/4''.
Condition:...
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MICHAEL WHEELER, OIL ON CANVASAn autumnforest scene oil on canvas painting by Michael Wheeler. Signed recto and verso. Titled verso. Canvas measures 8" x 6", framed to 11 3/4" x 13 3/4". Excellent condition. shipping...
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MICHAEL WHEELER, OIL ON CANVASA winterforest scene oil on canvas painting by Michael Wheeler. Signed recto and verso. Titled verso. Original gallery receipt included. Canvas measures 12" x 9", framed to 16 1/2"...
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MICHAEL WHEELER ACRYLIC ON CANVASMICHAELWHEELER (Kentucky, b.1952) acrylic on canvas, "Winter's Trail," snow-covered forest. Signed lower right, titled verso, 24" x 36" (image), 31" x 43" (frame)....
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MICHAEL WHEELER ACRYLIC ON CANVASMICHAELWHEELER (Kentucky, b.1952) acrylic on canvas, "Melting Away Fast," snow-covered forest. Signed lower right, titled verso, 24" x 36" (image), 31" x 43" (frame)....
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MICHAEL WHEELER ACRYLIC ON CANVASMICHAELWHEELER (Kentucky, b.1952) acrylic on canvas, forest interior. Signed lower right and dated 1996, 23.75" x 35.75 (image), 32" x 44.5" (frame)....
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