Raven’s Way is pleased to offer a Finely Handcrafted Turned Head Black Duck Decoy designed for Hunting by Lyle G. Smith, Shinnecock Nation, Long Island, New York, circa 2010. Lyle is a member of the Sinnecock Nation on Long Island and has long been involved in promoting the Native American Heritage of his Decoy Carving Ancestors, including especially Chief Cuffee. Lyle is, of course, influenced by the Long Island Carvers who have long used Cork Bodies with Wood Heads and in some cases, as here, Tails. Lyle has done an Especially Fine Job Articulating the Feather Patterns with his Carvings in Cork and Enhanced that Carving with Detailed Paint/Feather Patterns. This Black Duck Duck measures: 17” in length, 7” in width, and 8” in height. The Bottom is Marked: “With a Native American Shield / Handcrafted By: / Lyle G. Smith / Shinnecock, NY / 2010 / And Signed by Lyle.”

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 Price $250 plus shipping

Wonderfully Carved and Painted Tucked Head Hooded Merganser Decoy by Robert Lewis, Roseville, Michigan, circa 1994. What I find especially appealing about this particular Merganser is the Emphasis that Lewis has given to the Form of the Decoy. The Tucked Head with the Full Crest leads to a Softly Rounded Raised Wing Pattern that gives Emphasis to the Primaries and Accented by the Paint Pattern. Lewis originally started carving under the influence of his father in 1976 and this 1994 Hooded shows the evidence of his “sense” for the carving process. The Decoy is Signed: “Robert Lewis / 1994 / Hooded Merganser / Drake.” It measures 13” in length, 5 1/2” in width, and 6” in height. This Hooded Merganser is one for the Collection.

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Price $395 plus shipping 

Another Amazing Example of an Early Boldly Presented, Crowell Style, Red-Breasted Merganser Drake Decoy with a Slightly Turned Head by Byron N. Bruffee, Middleborough, Massachusetts, circa 2011. Made in the Early Cross-Winged Style, this Decoy is Quite Similar to the actual Merganser featured in the March/April, 2011 issue of Hunting & Fishing Collectibles Magazine as Rod Taylor does another “Fresh from the Bench” article on both Byron Bruffee and Dan Bruffee (Byron’s decoys are exclusive to Raven’s Way). Byron incorporates many of the Classic Crowell Techniques that were used on his Special Order Decoys: Rasping to Enhance the Effects of Feathering, Chip Carving Under and Around the Tail, Carved Tail Feathers, Cross-Tip Primaries, plus Nicely Detailed Bill Carving (that represent the knick name “saw bill” for a Merganser. Beyond these Wonderful Elements of Form, the Superb Original Paint also reflects Crowell’s Best Wet-on-Wet Oil Painting, with Bruffee’s Creative Vision offering a Unique Presentation. Please examine the large images. Measurements: 19 ½” in length, 8” in width, and 8 ¼” in height. To personalize the piece, Bruffee has carved around the edge of the bottom: “A Crooked Smile, A Twinkling Eye / Savored Memories, Fondly Remembered.” In the middle is the Bruffee “B” and on the side the image of a bird and on the other the image of seaside flowers.

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Price $1050 plus shipping 

An Early Pair of Red-Breasted Merganser Decoys by Marty Collins, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, circa Early 1990s. Here is one of the Classic Pair of Sleek Solid-Bodied Mergansers with Leather Crests and Detailed Bill Carving that Marty produced in the Early 1990s. The Decoys display Excellent Original Paint with a Good Deal of “Soft” Feathering to Enhance the Realism of the Decoys without turning them into decoratives. The Brass Tags nailed to the Bottom of these Decoys are an early ID form that Marty used and are Stamped: “Martin D. Collins / Decoy Maker / E. Wareham MA 02538”; Marty has since moved to Bridgewater; this Pair was also Originally Signed “Martin D. Collins” in ink. They are now Rigged for use as gunning decoys and Branded: “M. D. Collins.” They are in Very Good Condition with Very Minor Wear. Measurements: approximately 20” in length, 5 ½” in width, and 6 ½” in height; the Drake is slightly larger than the Hen. Nice Pair of Early Collins’ Mergansers.

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 Price $1350 plus shipping