Antique 19th Century Hand Carved Wild Duck Decoy W/Built in Trinket Box

Description: This antique 19th century duck decoy is a true gem for collectors and hunters alike. Crafted by hand with solid white oak wood, this decoy features a wild duck design with intricate carvings. It also comes with a built-in trinket box, adding to its charm and functionality. This vintage decoy is a rare find, perfect for adding a touch of hunting history to your collection. Made in the United States, this solid body decoy is a must-have for any avid hunter or collector. Don't miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of hunting history. A duck decoy is used by duck hunters a gentleman's sport where a duck hunter places one or more duck decoys or fake ducks in the water near his ambush site made from bails of hay and leafy foliate as camouflage to hide from ducks flying over the water near where he is hiding usually about 100 feet from the water. He sometimes uses a 'quack' whistle that sounds like a quacking noise a duck makes to attract as many ducks as he can to his ambush site. The hunter may use a rifle or nets to capture ducks as shrapnel from bullets can sometimes make the duck taste funny when it is cooked. The hunter usually has a golden or Labrador retriever at his side that will run into the water and gently hold the duck in their jaws and bring it to the hunter for later eating. The 19th century proceeded the Industrial Revolution, here in America, at the turn of the 19th century to the 20th century before steel was introduced as a material for building and a bit later for mass production of goods for the commercial and consumer marketplace like commercial ship building materials to make large ships to consumer steel nails to build homes and make fun creative projects at home. There are several details about this marvelous duck decoy that characterize it as a 19th century decoy and later a home project with its dainty built-in trinket box located on the back of this magnificent duck decoy. The use of blown glass eyes is its most defining characteristic as during this period in history there were no plastics and the eyes have a bright orange iris with black pupils. The use of iron square headed nails to fasten the head and neck of the decoy onto its body were made by hand by a blacksmith on an anvil with a hammer. The decoy is of course hand carved from head to tail by a master wood carver using sharp tools to carve this masterpiece an he used white oak wood which was used in ship building at the time as it didn't rot when buoyed in wagter as duck decoys are made to float in water. Around the slot for thee trinket box are repurposed solid yellow brass hobnails and hobnails during the 19th century were nailed into the soles of shoes to keep them from wearing out a lot like cleats are used on shoes today to keep them from wearing out. In fact, during WWI, sometime later, hobnails were used on the bottoms of combat boots to keep their boots from wearing out as well. Embedded into the bottom of this decoy is a heavy disc shaped weight with the word "GAMBLE" written on it in incised print and the lead weight was nailed into the bottom of the decoy to hold it upright in the water and to keep it stationary while floating on top of the water with the ebb and flow of the tide so it doesn't float to the middle a lake, river, or stream. When I found this unique & unusual antique duck decoy it has Styrofoam in the slot on top of the decoy's back and some dirty artificial flowers inserted into the foam and it didn't look just right. So, I asked my dear sister who is an experienced, skilled, talented, and gifted woodworker to fashion a small box with a lid and solid yellow brass knob on top of the lid to replace the artificial flowers. The box fits into the slot on the back of the duck just perfectly giving this duck decoy a new dimension that of a built-in trinket box to hold a ring, souvenir, a piece of memorabilia, or anything your imagination might desire to keep in it. The duck measures 7" tall from the tabletop to the top of its head X 17" long from head to tail X 5 1/2" wide across its back, and this antique duck decoy is 19th century making it well over 100 years old a real antique. It is in good condition for its age and would compliment any antique, shabby-chic, French country, urban farm house, country kitchen, traditional decorum's, and even that single antique in a contemporary setting. Good luck! Any questions? Email me right away! Please see my other treasures on my EBAY site by clicking on "SELLER'S OTHER ITEMS."

Price: 49.99 USD

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

End Time: 2025-01-03T03:41:02.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD