Folk Art Preening White Winged Scoter Decoy by Reggie Birch

Folk Art Preening White Winged Scoter Decoy by Reggie Birch, circa 2000, in the manner of a Gus Wilson Monhegan Island decoy, hand carved of white cedar with neck and head turned back to preen feathers on the back, with carved detail to eyes, bill nares, inlet neck, raised wings and upswept tail; the paint is deliberately distressed and aged to produce a striking patina. The wood is as dried as an antique, and the decoy has been worked to appear well used in the field. One would never suspect this was not an actual antique if not for the prominent signature on the bottom.

Reggie Birch is a renowned award-winning decoy carver from Chincoteague Island, Virginia. He began making decoys for his own use in 1977, and soon started to carve miniatures and decorative decoys for competition in wildfowl shows. His interest however lay in old working decoys and he soon ventured into his unique style of making antique-appearing ducks of the old school. He became a full-time professional carver in 1986, and refined his technique using only hand tools and oil paint to achieve the look of a 100 year decoy.

Measures: 8-1/4 in H x 15-3/4 in L x 9-1/4 in W