Ca 1930 HENLEY SORBY (1883-1954) GORES LANDING, ONTARIO BLUEBILL ANTIQUE DUCK DECOY - SOLID, LOW-PROFILE, UNIFORMLY-TAPERED BODY WHICH TERMINATES IN A SQUARED OFF TAIL - NICELY ROUNDED BREAST AND SIDES - FLAT TEAR-DROP SHAPED BOTTOM - ELONGATED NECK SEAT WITH ALERT HEAD POSTURE - DEEPLY CARVED, SYMMETRICAL EYES WITH A SMALL CENTRAL STEEL TACK TO REPRESENT THE PUPIL - BILL CARVING CONSISTS OF SIMPLE, CURVILINEAR BILL ROOT ONLY - RECESSED BRASS EYE SCREW WITH ATTACHED ANCHOR LINE - STEEL EYE SCREW WITH A SHORT LINE ATTACHED TO A PENDULUM-LIKE CYLINDRICAL LEAD WEIGHT - ¾” DIAMETER WOODEN HEADSCREW HOLE PLUG - IN CENTER OF BOTTOM IS A 1.0” DIAMETER DOWEL WHICH EXTENDS VERTICALLY THROUGH THE BODY AND EMERGES JUST BEHIND THE HEAD DORSALLY - “5” STAMPED UNDERNEATH THE BILL
CONDITION:
APPEARS TO BE MOSTLY ORIGINAL PAINT WITH MODERATE WEAR AND SMALL AREAS TO BARE WOOD - HIT BY MULTIPLE SHOT
History:
BORN IN 1883, HENLEY SORBY (1883-1954) WAS “THE SON OF A WEALTHY ENGLISH FAMILY (2).” HE BEGAN CARVING DECOYS IN THE EARLY 1ST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY AND CONTINUED UNTIL ROUGHLY 1940 (1).
IN THE EARLY PART OF THE CENTURY, RICE LAKE, WITH ITS WILD RICE BEDS ATTRACTING AN ABUNDANCE OF DUCKS, BECAME A MECCA FOR DUCK HUNTING (2). SETTLING IN GORES LANDING ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF RICE LAKE, SORBY WAS AN AVID HUNTER AND DECOY CARVER.
“A RESOURCEFUL MAN”, ACCORDING TO PATRICIA FLEMING AND THOMAS CARPENTER IN THEIR BOOK TRADITIONS IN WOOD, “HENLY SORBY TRANSFORMED HIS SMALL COTTAGE INTO A WORKSHOP BY CONNECTING HIS FURNITURE TO A PULLEY SYSTEM THAT LIFTED EVERYTHING UP TO THE CEILING WHENEVER HE NEEDED THE SPACE (1).”
IN HIS BOOK ONTARIO DECOYS II, AUTHOR BERNIE GATES STATES THAT “SORBY TRAITS INCLUDE A SIMPLE LOW BODIED BLOCK, USUALLY A SQUARE TAIL AND LITTLE OR NO CARVING AROUND THE BILLS. THE EYES WERE STAMPED ON WITH A CARTRIDGE CASE DIPPED I YELLOW PAINT OR JUST INDENTED WITH A SHELL. WHEN HE STARTED CARVING (2).”
REFERENCES:
FLEMING P AND CARPENTER T. TRADITIONS IN WOOD. CAMDEN HOUSE PUBLISHING. Pp 105. 1987.
GATES B. ONTARIO DECOYS II. THE UPPER CANADIAN. Pp 106-107. 1986.
MEASUREMENTS:
APPROXIMATELY 12 ¾” LENGTH (TIP OF BILL TO EDGE OF TAIL) x 5 ½” WIDTH x 4 ¾” TALL
***UPDATE: TWIN MAPLES NOW OFFERS INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING THROUGH EBAY’S INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PROGRAM***
Customer Satisfaction is Our #1 Priority!
Please read all the info below
Contacting Us:
We will respond to all email inquiries within 24 hours Monday through Friday and within 48 hours on weekends and Holidays.
Shipping Costs:
This item is calculated for a 16 x 8 x 8 box (weight TBD) and ships from 02038 zip code. (Please feel free to compare rates on UPS and PO websites.) We take great care in properly packing each item in a professional manner to ensure your satisfaction.
After Winning An Auction:
We will post tracking information within 24 hours of payment reception per eBay’s shipping policy. If you have won muliple auctions please contact us to arrange for combined shipping options.
Payment:
Payments must be received within 5 days of receiving an invoice. If the payment is not received within 5 days the seller will cancel the order. If you need to make payment arrangements please contact us.
Sales Tax:
eBay collects and remits sales taxes for online purchases in some states. eBay adds the sales tax at checkout. Seller cannot remove or alter this sales tax.
Shipping Information:
WE WILL ONLY SHIP TO THE ADDRESS LISTED ON YOUR EBAY INVOICE.
SHIPPED USPS PRIORITY
WE DO NOT COMBINE SHIPPING - EACH DECOY COMES IN THEIR OWN SEPARATE BOX
BUYER PAYS FOR RETURN SHIPPING
WE SHIP VIA USPS ONLY EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
WE DO NOT SHIP TO P.O. BOXES
WE WILL SHIP TO US AND CANADA ADDRESSES - FOR CANADIAN ADDRESSES, PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE BIDDING TO CALCULATE SHIPPING PRICES
Returning An Item:
We have a 100%, 14-day unconditional money-back guarantee. We strive to resolve any issues to your satisfaction. If the item arrives damaged from shipping, please save all shipping materials and boxes, and contact us promptly after receipt and we will work with the postal carrier.
If you feel the item does not closely match the description, condition, or images, please save all shipping materials and boxes and contact us promptly after receipt. We will try to resolve any issue to your satisfaction. If we cannot resolve, we will accept the return, no questions asked. Once the item has been returned to the seller, we will send you a full refund.
Feedback:
Please contact us with any questions or concerns before leaving feedback. We will do our best to solve any problems in an effort to ensure winning bidder’s satisfaction.
Disclaimer:
Buyer is responsible for reading seller's specifications, condition, description, and policies prior to bidding. Item has been used previously. Feel free to ask any questions before bidding. See the seller’s photos as part of the description.
Please note that we attempt to describe each item as accurately as possible. The actual color may vary slightly from what is seen in photos. If you have any questions regarding an item, please feel free to contact us before bidding. Your satisfaction is our #1 priority.