The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys [Hardcover]

Joe Engers (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2000

A huge, oversize, fully illustrated look at an American folk-art treasure, complete with hundreds of lavish full-color photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best and most attractive of its genre I have encountered. Lavishly illustrated."--The New York Times

From the Back Cover

A wildfowl decoy is a workingman's tool, a functional object that hunters use to lure game within a range. A wildfowl decoy is a work of art, a painted sculpture, a portrait of a bird, an expression of an artist's skill and imagination. A wildfowl decoy is also a piece of history, for wildfowl decoys are unique to the New World: several thousand years ago, North American Indians hunted with decoys - until the last century, European hunters made do by tying live birds to sticks. Finally, a wildfowl decoy is folklore, a form of regional art: decoys mimic bird species found along our ocean coasts and up and down our inland waterways and they were created, one at a time, by true folk artists. Folk art created to serve as a purpose, folk art that has become history, folk art tied to geography and to the world of bird: the aspects of wild fowl decoys are reflected in the variety of wildfowl decoy collectors, for collecting decoys has become an international hobby, attracting sportsmen, antique collectors, folk art enthusiasts, and interior decorators. Once overlooked by most collectors, wildfowl decoys have now become a primary interest, with auction prices reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys presents decoys in the most sensible and comprehensive way: by region, with each region discussed by a recognized expert in that area. Thus the entire range of decoys is covered, from Canada down the Atlantic Coast and inland along streams and rivers to Louisiana and up the Mississippi to the Great Lakes and across to California and Oregon. Also included are chapters on European decoys, on the history of decoys, how decoys were made, and how to go about collecting decoys. There are also a list of public collections of decoys, a bibliography, a record of top auction prices, maps of waterfowl flyways, and an index. Every decoy is a sculptural symbol of a bygone era, the great age of market gunning, and every decoy evokes a time and a place, an artist and a region. Placed on a shelf, any single decoy has a story to tell; thus the enormous selection of decoys presented in this book has many stories to tell, and each is told by the person who knows it best.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585741205
• ISBN-13: 978-1585741205
• Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 10.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Sports Memorabilia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish we could find more copies, December 21, 1999

By 

Dick Whitttington (Seend, Wiltshire, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys (Hardcover)

This book spends more time on loan to antique dealers and decoy collectors then it does in my library. It is an excellent reference work for collector and waterfowler alike. Everyone who sees it and collects, deals or dreams wants a copy. But we simply can't find them. Superb pictures and detailed text. We rate it excellent all around.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Great Book of Waterfowl Decoys, September 7, 2009

By 

Irish Buck (Quincy, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys (Hardcover)

This book is a great resource for providing information on the history and art of making decoys. The book breaks down by geographic area within the US some of the most renown carvers and styles of the past. Though this book does give an account of all of the known carvers within a specific area, it does prompt you to look further within the state or flyway to seek more information. Whether you are a waterfowl hunter, antique dealer, a wood craftsman, or you just like American folk history, this book will provide something of interest to all.

5.0 out of 5 stars The premier book on wildfowl decoys, March 3, 2010

By 

KO "AZartLover" (Sun Lakes, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys (Hardcover)

Whether you are an avid collector or are new to the fascinating world of duck decoys, this impressive book is a must-have for your library. The over-sized pages feature large, high-quality color photographs which clearly illustrate the beauty of each carefully chosen specimen. I'm quite surprised that one can find a copy to buy; it was quite a bargain at its initial price of only $75. This book is worth every penny at any price! I particularly love the stunning cover photo and am proud to display this book on my coffee table. My advice is that if you can find a copy for sale, don't hesitate to buy it!