By bringing their vision to life in colorful three dimensions, decorative wildfowl sculptors have raised this genre to the stratum of fine art. Celebrate this awakening with DECOYS, Ernie Sparks photographic collection of the finest sculptures.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
There were pictograms of five tethered ducks in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Fourth-century B.C. Greeks pulled painted birds on strings to attract other birds. Early American settlers made crude reed-and-wood fake wildfowl to attract the real birds. Decoys have been around for over 3000 years, but in the late 19th century fine hand-carved decoys were replaced by mass-produced balsa, or plastic birds, making the decoy craftsmen obsolete. In 1968 the Ward Foundation, named for two famed carvers, was founded, and in 1971 the annual Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition began. This volume looks at the work of 23 of these modern practitioners. Following a brief interview with each artist are lush, full-page color photos of their carvings. Black duck, redhed drake, mallard, or brant goose, the detail is such that the viewer expects the bird's eyes to blink and its head to turn. Highly recommended.
Joseph Hewgley, Nashville P.L.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Joseph Hewgley, Nashville P.L.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
This near-perfect album of outstanding contemporary duck decoys should forever knock the scales from the eyes of anyone who still thinks of them as only rudimentary, practical devices for luring birds within hunters' sights and as, at their best, fit for display only in museums of folk art. Indeed, as Sparks' exemplary color photos of the works of 22 of their creators elegantly show, the word decoy can be applied to these examples only with affectionate and nostalgic irony. They are superb, realistic wood sculptures, carved, painted, and occasionally, to achieve the artist's desired effect, augmented by materials other than the basic wood--see Pat Godin's very subtly spectacular pair of American pigeons and then read how he achieved the intimacy of gesture between the birds in Aziz's typically graceful and efficient note on Godin. It may surprise many that the artists, who range from a 60-year-old former pro-baseball player to mid-20s brother and sister carvers, are often full-time decoy makers; however, with prizes and collectors paying thousands for single decoys, it shouldn't Ray Olson
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
perfect book for lovers of decoys.,
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This review is from: Decoys: A Celebration of Contemporary Wildfowl Carving (Hardcover)
A perfect book for the man or women who loves decoys. No need to be a hunter to enjoy these wonderful pictures. Makes a great gift. And a beautiful coffee table book. Five stars plus.
5.0 out of 5 stars
WoW,
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This review is from: Decoys: A Celebration of Contemporary Wildfowl Carving (Hardcover)
I have been a novice decoy carver for several years now and this is one of the finest photo books for the beginner and others out there, you should really have one of these. It is an insperational reference you can go to any time once it is on your shelf. For that information on the perfect finished look this book can take you to places including the prestigious Ward Foundation better known as the World Class Carving for the preservation of the art of wild fowl in a medium of wood. Spot on book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
DECOYS: A CELEBRATION OF CONTEMPORARY WILDFOWL CARVING,
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This review is from: Decoys: A Celebration of Contemporary Wildfowl Carving (Hardcover)
GREAT BOOK, WONDERFUL PHOTOS. GOOD BOOK FOR DECOY CARVERS AS YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR DETAILS OF EACH DUCK. ALL MASTERPIECES OF THE CARVERS ART. IF YOU LOVE DUCKS, WOW, YOU WILL LOVE THESE DUCKS.
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