DON WOLFE (?) (1912-1990) CAPE VINCENT, NY BLUEBILL HEN VINTAGE DUCK DECOY - SOLID SMOOTH BODY WITH WIDE, OVOID FLAT BOTTOM - NICELY ROUNDED SIDES AND BREAST SLIGHTLY UNDERCUT TO THE BOTTOM - SYMMETRICAL TAPERED TAIL CARVING - INSET GLASS EYES - BILL ROOT, MANDIBULAR NOTCH, AND NOSTRIL CARVING ON A NICELY SHAPED BILL - HEAD TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT - FULL LENGTH KEEL (9.0” LENGTH x 1 1/16” WIDTH x 1 1/16” HEIGHT) HELD BY AT LEAST 2 NAILS - HOLE IN FRONT OF KEEL (LINE TIE?) - LARGE BRASS EYE SCREW LINE TIE - TWO STEP RECTANGULAR BALANCE WEIGHT ROUNDED AT EACH END
HISTORY:
BORN IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, IN 1912, DONALD F. “DON” WOLFE GREW UP IN AN OUTDOORS FAMILY. ACCORDING TO THE 1974 NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE WOOD, FIELD AND STREAM: DECOY MAN, WOLFE WAS THE “SONG OF A PRUSSIAN RIDING MASTER, A ONE TIME STEEPLECHASE RIDER, SAILOR, MECHANICAL ENGINEER, BUILDER OF SMALL BOATS, AND A HUNTER AND FISHERMAN (1).” HE DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR CARVING BIRDS AND OTHER ANIMALS, OFTEN USING DURABLE HARDWOODS INCLUDING OAK AND WALNUT (2).
MOVING TO CAPE VINCENT IN THE LATE 1940’s, WOLFE CARVED THE FIRST OF OVER 250 WORKING DECOYS THROUGHOUT THE 50s, 60s, AND 70s (1,2).
IN DISCUSSING HIS CARVING STYLE, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE SHARED THAT WOLFE WAS “LEAN MAN WITH POWERFUL WRISTS AND HANDS (1)”, WHO “ATTACKS THE WOOD FROM WHICH HIS DECOYS ARE FASHIONED WITH AN ALMOST FEROCIOUS INTENSITY. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WORKING DECOYS, HE NO LONGER CHOOSES TO PAINT HIS BIRDS, AND THIS MAKES CAREFUL WORKMANSHIP ALL-IMPORTANT, FOR PAINT AND WOOD FILLER CAN HIDE FLAWS THAT A NATURAL FINISH CANNOT (1).”
ACCORDING TO STEWART AND LUNMAN IN THEIR BOOK DECOYS OF THE THOUSAND ISLANDS, WOLFE’S DECOYS “WERE PERFECTLY SUITED TO THIS AREA OF THE ST. LAWRENCE (2),” AND SOON BECAME HIGHLY SAUGHT AFTER BY HUNTERS IN THE AREA.
“TODAY”, ACCORDING TO STEWART AND LUNMAN, “COLLECTORS VALUE DON’T BRANT DECOYS SO HIGHLY THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND ONE (2).”
REFERENCES:
BRYANT N. WOOD, FIELD AND STRAM: DECOY MAN. NEW YORK TIMES. JUNE 27, 1974.
STEWARD J AND LUNMAN L. DECOYS OF THE THOUSAND ISLANDS. THE BOSTON MILLS PRESS. Pp 220-221. 1991.
CONDITION:
WORKING PAINT WITH MODERATE WEAR AND RUBS TO BARE WOOD - LIGHTLY HIT BY SHOT - SMALL CRACK LOWER BREAST - TIGHT CRACK BASE OF NECK
MEASUREMENTS:
APPROXIMATELY 14 ⅝” LENGTH (TIP OF BILL TO EDGE OF TAIL) x 7.0” WIDTH x 6 ½” TALL (WITHOUT KEEL) - WEIGHT: 2 POUNDS AND 7.5 OUNCES
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