VINTAGE DECOYS
For Sale

Confidence Seagull by George V. Soule (1912-1996), Staples Point Road, Freeport Maine. Made ca 1950. This is a very rare all-wood (pine or cedar) Herring Gull Soule decoy, weighted and used for hunting from Soule's own rig. Its turned head looks slightly toward the sky reaching forward in a swimming movement. He has glass eyes, carved shoulder,s and deep relief-carved black and white wing tips. The paint is fine, original and dry. This is one of the best Soule birds we've ever seen.

Reported from Boston Globe/Associated Press April 3, 1996: "BRUNSWICK, Maine -- George V. Soule, a widely known carver of duck decoys and former hunting companion of the founder of L.L. Bean Inc., has died at the age of 84. Mr. Soule, a lifelong Freeport resident was an innovator of coastal cork decoys." It was reported that Soule made and sold 200,000 cork birds through the L.L. Bean catalog over the years....However, THIS wood Herring Gull is from his personal hunting rig.
Size: 17.25"l x 6.25"h.
Publication "Under the Radar: Undervalued Vintage Decoys," Hunting & Fishing Collectibles Magazine, July/August 2008.
SET OF PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

Hooded Merganser Hen by C. W. Chrysler, Prince Edward County, Ontario Canada. Pre 1900. This is a rare species in original paint. The flat-bottomed, hollow body shows a slight rise from neck to back and moves back into an extended wide and flattened tail, characteristic to the Prince Edward County area. The thin neck develops into an extremely stylized high, narrow head with glass eyes. Her condition is very good with a nice bill repair and a single eye replaced. Impressed on the underside of the jaw is the initial "C" for Chrysler. This little hen has been in the Kangas Collection since 1981. "KANGAS" is hot branded and "MR 3" code is stamped into the bottom board.
Publications: DECOYS: A North American Survey by Gene and Linda Kangas, Hillcrest Publications, Utah. 1982, p 149, pl 255 exact decoy.
"A Bit Racy: The Inspired Diversity of Merganser Decoys" by Gene and Linda Kangas.
Decoy Magazine May/June 2007 pp24-26. Exact decoy on Cover and page 24 of article.
Provenance: Richard Bird, Ontario Canada; Gene & Linda Kangas, Ohio. 1981.
Price on Request
SET OF PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

Hen Red Breasted Merganser by Harald Thengs (1893-1974). Babylon, Long Island, New York. Ca. 1930s. Fine original condition. Custom fit keel rigged, fore and aft, with brass eye screws. Hand-fashioned eyes (dry pigment & glue). Thengs stamp On bottom. Until 1983, Thengs' extraordinary and totally unique small rig of decoys lay hidden in a dusty sea chest in the attic loft of his family's 350 year old farmhouse. Six more years passed before his family sought information on the birds. All of Thengs' decoys now reside in a few private collections and four major museums. See DECOYS by Gene and Linda Kangas p207 for rigmates.
Size: 17"l x 7.75"h.
Publications: "The Return of the Viking Decoys," Decoy Magazine, March/April 1990, by Gene and Linda Kangas, the Thengs Family and Nicholas Kondon.
Provenance: Harald Thengs, Long Island NY; The Thengs Family, Norway; Gene & Linda Kangas, Ohio.
SET OF PHOTOS AVAILABLE.
Price: $8500.00

Exquisite Ruddy Duck by Rudolph "Rudy" Kadlock (1910-1971), Sea Girt, New Jersey. This delightful bird is hollow with glass eyes and lovely rich original paint. His looped leather strap is affixed to the bottom. This tiny bird is in excellent structural condition. It has a few scuffs and scratches on the paint...and a few minor teeth marks on the bill and tip of tail (possibly by a dog)which do not distract from the beauty of the decoy. The ruddy duck came directly from Rudy Kadlock's daughter. Email us for more photo views.
Size: 9.5"l x 4.5"h.
Provenance: Rudy Kadlock; Kadlock Family; ODCCA Auction 2009; Gene and Linda Kangas, Ohio.
Set of Photos Available.
Price: $900

Sleeping Brant decoy by Rudolph "Rudy" Kadlock (d 1971), Sea Girt, New Jersey. This unusually styled bird is probably the sculptural highlight of Kadlock's work. Its hollow body has beads or shot inside and alert glass eyes keeping occasional watch. Kadlock's paint is subtle and beautifully executed! A looped leather strap (split) is affixed to bottom. There are a few minor dings and scuffs on the body, but the bird is in absolutely excellent original condition. The brant came directly from Rudy Kadlock's daughter. Email us for more photo views.
Size: 17"l x 5"h.
Provenance: Rudy Kadlock; Kadlock Family; ODCCA Auction 2009; Gene and Linda Kangas, Ohio.
SET OF PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

Sentinal Brant by Larry Kirack (dates unknown), Eureka, California. Estimate early 1940-1950s by Miller and Hanson, authors of WILDFOWL DECOYS of the Pacific Coast who also state in their book (p 126) the "construction of his decoys indicates an ingenious carver. He employed vertical laminations of coastal redwood to form the semi-hollow bodies of his brant decoys. He also formed the central portion of the head, including the bill, with a separate piece of redwood, and the neck is inletted into the body." This stately decoy has working repaint (several areas worn to wood) following Kirack's lines; perhaps it was repainted by him. The deep, deep body retains original weight and line tie screws front and back. The body is in excellent solid condition; the head has been noted to have had a professional repair.
Size: 17"l x 15"h
Provenance: Harry Marx, CA; Gene and Linda Kangas, OH
Price: $900

One-of-a-Kind Owl decoy (made 1944) by C. Victor Bracher (Utah and Cleveland Ohio), paired with a Herter's Company rare "Dead Crow". This Owl was fashioned by Bracher in the style of the commercially-made Herter's Company Owls. Signed by Bracher. The owl was intended to be nailed to a fence post in a field. Originally, fish hooks were attached to the back of the head to impale the crows. The owls were used to lure crows which would then attack the owl while a farmer shot the crows protecting his crops. Herter's Company produced a limited number of "Dead Crows" to be used with their owls in the field. Both decoys, the Owl and the Crow, are in very good condition. This Owl and Crow have been in the Kangas Collection since 1973.
Sizes: Owl 20.5"h Crow 17"l (length of crow) Ensemble with metal stand 28.5"h.
Provenance: C. Victor Bracher, Ohio; Gene and Linda Kangas, Ohio
Publications & Venues:
THE BIRD DECOY, AN AMERICAN ART FORM, Exhibition & Catalog. Johnsgard, University of Nebraska, 1976, p182
Cincinnati Post, March 24, 1979, p17
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COLLECTIBLES. Time-Life Books, 1978/79. Chapter "Decoys", p179
Exhibition "Folk Art from the Collection of Gene and Linda Kangas," Exhibition and Catalog at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio, March 1979, plate 1
DECOYS: A NORTH AMERICAN SURVEY by Gene and Linda Kangas, Hillcrest Publications, Utah, 1983, plate 491,p307
DECOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY by Alan Haid, Schiffer Publishing, 1981, p146
Exhibition Mid-Atlantic Wildfowl Festival, Virginia Beach VA, August 1982
Exhibition The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, "The Decoy Study Gallery Inaugural Exhibition," 1992-93
SET OF PHOTOS AVAILBLE.
Price: $7,500

Black Duck by Benjamin Holmes, Stratford, Connecticut, circa 1870. This lovely hollow, low head decoy has bill and nostril carving, and glass eyes. The teardrop style Holmes weight is affixed to the bottom as well as the "B Holmes" stamping near the leather tie down. The bird is in beautiful Shang Wheeler paint. The "KANGAS" hot stamp and code number "BD 1" are also on the bottom board. This bird has been in the Kangas Collection since 1981. A note from previous owner Dixon Merkt dated 10/22/81 reads: "Low back Ben Holmes black duck made ar. 1870 with "B Holmes" stamp. Acquired from old Stratford gunner in early 1970. Blacks seem to be more scarce than broadbill."
Size: 15.75"h x 6"h.
Provenance: Old Stratford Gunner, Early 1970s; Dixon Merkt; Gene & Linda Kangas.
Publications and Venues: DECOYS: A NORTH AMERICAN SURVEY by Kangas, Hillcrest Publications, Utah, 1982; p 204 color.
Exhibition Mid-Atlantic Wildfowl Festival, Virginia Beach, VA, August 1982. Won Blue Ribbon for Best in Show of Ben Holmes Black Ducks.
Exhibition of Antique Black Duck Decoys (including catalog) at 1984 Ohio Decoy Collectors & Carvers Assn. Show, Westlake, Ohio.
COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO DECOYS by Kangas. Wallace-Homestead, 1992; p 104.
Exhibition The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, "The Decoy Study Gallery Inaugural Exhibition;" July 1992.
SET OF PHOTOS AVAILABLE.
Price: $4,800