Robert Shaw: American BIrd Decoys

Bird Decoys of North America

BIRD DECOYS OF NORTH AMERICA: Nature, History, and Art

by Robert Shaw

To be published in early November. This is the definitive book on antique bird decoys, a gorgeous hardcover volume illustrated with hundreds of stunning color photographs of classic decoys from all over North America, plus Audubon prints, historic black and white photos, nineteenth century prints, and more.

Order your copy today!

Autographed copies are available from me for $45 postpaid within the US ($55 US when sent to Canadian addresses). Send a check to me at 435 Longmeadow Drive, Shelburne, VT 05482 or you can use a credit card to send a payment to my email address via PayPal. Be sure to let me know how you would like the inscription to read.
All pre-publication orders will be delivered after the book is published in early November.

American Bird Decoys
Resources for Collectors

Robert Shaw: Consulting Services
Art Advisor and Private Curator

Articles by Robert Shaw

Tools of Deception: A History of American Bird Decoys

Drawing by Joel Baber

Joel Barber: The Lost Birds

Regional Traditions and Masters

Drawing by Joel Babe

The McCleery Collection

Barber drawing

)Note: All the drawings on this page are by Joel Barber.)

Recommended Reading

American Bird Decoys, William J. Mackey, New York: Dutton, 1965
Classic surrey by the most influential collector of his time. The sale of Mackey's immense collection in the early 1970s was a seminal event.

The Art of the Decoy:American Bird Carving, Adele Earnest, New York: Random House, 1965.
Insightful study by one of the great early folk art dealer/collectors.

Decoys: A North American Survey, Gene and Linda Kangas, Salt Lake City: Hillcrest Publications, 1983,
Still the most comprehensive and useful survey, encompassing all of North America.

The Decoy as Folk Sculpture: An Exhibition of Waterfowl and Fish Decoys from the Collections of Ronald Swanson and Julie and Michael Hall, Michael Hall and Ronald Swanson, Bloomfield Hills, MI: Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum, 1986.
Hard to find catalog of exhibition combining two great collections. Hall's essay "Marsh Trek: The Dilemma of Decoys" is worth the price of admission alone.

Wild Fowl Decoys, Joel Barber, New York: Derrydale Press, 1934.
The first book on decoys by the pioneer collector and artist. The best written and most charming decoy book ever, with many important insights into what Barber called "floating sculpture." Barber's collection was acquired by The Shelburne Museum after his death in 1952 and much of it is exhibited in the Museum's Dorset House

Books by (or with contributions by) Robert Shaw Drawing by Joel Babe

*Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.* *by Robert Shaw* Catalog of 1992 Houston Museum of Natural Science exhibition of the greatest decoy collection of all time. Dr. McCleery's collection was sold at Sotheby's in New York in 2000, where it brought more than $11,000,000. Out of print. Copies of the soft cover edition are available from Guyette & Schmidt, Inc., while the rare hardcover can sometimes be found on Amazon. Hardcover,7.5 x 10.25 in., 120 pp., 60 full page color photos. Gulf Publishing Company, 1992.
Purchase The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys A huge, comprehensive survey with hundreds of full-color photographs. Presents decoys by region, from Canada down the Atlantic Coast, inland along streams and rivers to Louisiana, up the Mississippi to the Great Lakes, and across to California and Oregon. I wrote the introduction and a chapter on collecting decoys. Hardcover, 14.7 x 10.8 in., 320 pages, The Lyons Press; ISBN: 1585741205.
Purchase The McCleery Auction Includes remembrances of Jim McCleery, symposium presentations, stories from The New York Times and other major publications, and a personal note by Kitty Mackey, daughter of legendary collector William Mackey. "While the final word regarding the James McCleery auction/collection may never be in, the definitive words on the subject have recently been published. Shaw and Gard have not only paid tribute to one of world's greatest collectors, they have also paralleled his ideals with their effort." -Antiques & the Arts Weekly "... like having a wonderful scrapbook, all beautifully assembled by the editors, of the most memorable and important event in the history of decoy collecting." -Decoy Magazine Hardcover, 10.25 x 10.25 in., 214 pp., over 100 color photos. Lake Emma Press, 2001. ISBN: 0-9705508-1-2 MUSEUMS WITH DECOY COLLECTIONS Only a handful of museums have decoys on permanent exhibition, so be sure to check ahead. If the museum’s birds are in storage, you may be able to make an appointment with a curator who can show them to you. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum One of the outstanding collections of American folk art, including decoys and ornamental carvings by Shang Wheeler, Gus Wilson, and others. The American Folk Art Museum, New York One of the outstanding collections of American folk art, including decoys by Cobb, Crowell, Lothrop Holmes, Osgood, Wilson and many other masters. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts Small collection including works by Elmer Crowell, Albert Laing and Gus Wilson The Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa, Ontario More than 500 Canadian decoys. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, Maryland The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio Small varied collection. Fenimore Art Museum, New York Historical Society The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, Havre de Grace, Maryland Decoys by Susquehanna Flats carvers. Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich, Massachusetts Large collection of decoys and bird carvings by Elmer and Cleon Crowell, as well as hundreds of their patterns and a recreation of their workshop. A special exhibition " A Bird in the Hand: The Carvings of Elmer and Cleon Crowell" will be The Illinois State Museum, Springfield, Illinois Illinois decoys by many of the region's masters. The Lakeview Museum of Art and Sciences, Peoria, Illinois Illinois decoys, including works by Elliston, Graves, Perdew and Schoenheider. The Long Island Museum of Art, History & Carriages, Stony Brook, New York Permanent exhibit of primarily Long Island decoys, including masterpieces by Bownan, Gelston, and Verity. The Milwaukee Art Museum The Michael and Julie Hall Collection includes outstanding examples by Bowman, Cobb, Crowell, Elliston, Lothrop Holmes, Schweikardt, the Ward brothers, and Shang Wheeler as well as a variety of other superb folk art sculptures and The Milwaukee Public Museum Small collection of decoys purchased from William Mackey Jr., including several birds pictured in his book, American Bird Decoys. The Noyes Museum of Art, Oceanville, New Jersey More than 350 historic New Jersey decoys and contemporary decorative bird carvings. The Peabody/Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts Outstanding collection of Massachusetts decoys by Crowell, Lincoln, Nichols, and other masters. The Charles Perdew Museum Association, Henry, Illinois Preserves the home Perdew built in Henry. The Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vermont The largest, finest and most comprehensive decoy collection on public exhibition, including the Joel Barber Collection. Masterworks from all regions, as well as a large selection of decorative and miniature carvings by Crowell. Lincoln, and Tuckerton Seaport, Tuckerton, New Jersey A maritime village that encompasses seventeen historic and recreated buildings including a gallery of New Jersey coast decoys. The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury, Maryland Historic decoys and contemporary decorative bird carvings. COLLECTOR’S GROUPS AND SHOWS ORGANIZATIONS Canadian Decoy and Outdoor Collectibles Association Holds an annual show and publishes a quarterly newsletter. Long Island Decoy Collector’s Association Midwest Decoy Collector’s Association National, 1100 member group. Hosts annual North American Antique Decoy and Sporting Collectible Convention Week at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois, which includes a Guyette & Schmidt auction and the Midwest Decoy Collector's Minnesota Decoy Collectors Association Holds annual antique decoy and collectibles show at the Thunderbird in Bloomington the first weekend of February. Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association Annual show held the third weekend in March at the Holiday Inn West, Westlake, Ohio. DDEWHERE TO BUY DECOYS: AUCTION HOUSES AND DEALERS DEALERS AND AUCTION HOUSES Paul Brisco Author of Decoys of Southwest Ontario. Specialist in Canadian decoys. Micah Brosnan Specialist in West Coast decoys. Decoys Unlimited, Inc. Ted and Judy Harmon. Dealer, broker and auctioneer, decoys from all regions. Holds large annual summer auction. Russ Goldberger, RJG Antiques Co-author of Mason Decoys: A Complete Pictorial Guide. Decoys from all regions, with emphasis on Mason’s Decoy Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. The leading decoy auction firm, with four auctions each year. Alan Haid, Classic Decoys Co-auther of Mason Decoys: A Complete Pictorial Guide. Decoys from all regions, with emphasis on Illinois River and Mason’s Decoy Factory. Gene and Linda Kangas, Creekside Gallery Contemporary art, folk art, decoys and antiques. Dick McIntyre, Collectable Old Decoys Broker/dealer specializing in Southern decoys. Northeast Auctions Outstanding Americana and sporting art sales that often include decoys. Stephen O’Brien Jr. Fine Art LLC Dealer and broker specializing in decoys and sporting art. Holds large annual summer auction, auction info at Sotheby’s Decoys included in auctions of American folk and decorative art. Nancy Druckman heads American folk art department; Ron Gard is the decoy specialist. Joe Tonelli Specialist in Illinois River and mid-West decoys.

Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.

by Robert Shaw

Catalog of 1992 Houston Museum of Natural Science exhibition of the greatest decoy collection of all time. Dr. McCleery's collection was sold at Sotheby's in New York in 2000, where it brought more than $11,000,000.

Out of print. Copies of the soft cover edition are available from Guyette & Schmidt, Inc., while the rare hardcover can sometimes be found on Amazon.

Hardcover,7.5 x 10.25 in., 120 pp., 60 full page color photos. Gulf Publishing Company, 1992.

Purchase

The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys

A huge, comprehensive survey with hundreds of full-color photographs. Presents decoys by region, from Canada down the Atlantic Coast, inland along streams and rivers to Louisiana, up the Mississippi to the Great Lakes, and across to California and Oregon. I wrote the introduction and a chapter on collecting decoys.

Hardcover, 14.7 x 10.8 in., 320 pages, The Lyons Press; ISBN: 1585741205.

The McCleery Auction Purchase

The McCleery Auction

Includes remembrances of Jim McCleery, symposium presentations, stories from The New York Times and other major publications, and a personal note by Kitty Mackey, daughter of legendary collector William Mackey.

"While the final word regarding the James McCleery auction/collection may never be in, the definitive words on the subject have recently been published. Shaw and Gard have not only paid tribute to one of world's greatest collectors, they have also paralleled his ideals with their effort."
-Antiques & the Arts Weekly

"... like having a wonderful scrapbook, all beautifully assembled by the editors, of the most memorable and important event in the history of decoy collecting."
-Decoy Magazine

Hardcover, 10.25 x 10.25 in., 214 pp., over 100 color photos. Lake Emma Press, 2001. ISBN: 0-9705508-1-2

MUSEUMS WITH DECOY COLLECTIONS
Only a handful of museums have decoys on permanent exhibition, so be sure to check ahead. If the museum’s birds are in storage, you may be able to make an appointment with a curator who can show them to you.

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
One of the outstanding collections of American folk art, including decoys and ornamental carvings by Shang Wheeler, Gus Wilson, and others.
The American Folk Art Museum, New York
One of the outstanding collections of American folk art, including decoys by Cobb, Crowell, Lothrop Holmes, Osgood, Wilson and many other masters.
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
Small collection including works by Elmer Crowell, Albert Laing and Gus Wilson

The Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa, Ontario
More than 500 Canadian decoys.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, Maryland

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio
Small varied collection.

Fenimore Art Museum, New York Historical Society

The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, Havre de Grace, Maryland
Decoys by Susquehanna Flats carvers.

Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich, Massachusetts
Large collection of decoys and bird carvings by Elmer and Cleon Crowell, as well as hundreds of their patterns and a recreation of their workshop. A special exhibition " A Bird in the Hand: The Carvings of Elmer and Cleon Crowell" will be The Illinois State Museum, Springfield, Illinois
Illinois decoys by many of the region's masters.

The Lakeview Museum of Art and Sciences, Peoria, Illinois
Illinois decoys, including works by Elliston, Graves, Perdew and Schoenheider.

The Long Island Museum of Art, History & Carriages, Stony Brook, New York
Permanent exhibit of primarily Long Island decoys, including masterpieces by Bownan, Gelston, and Verity.

The Milwaukee Art Museum
The Michael and Julie Hall Collection includes outstanding examples by Bowman, Cobb, Crowell, Elliston, Lothrop Holmes, Schweikardt, the Ward brothers, and Shang Wheeler as well as a variety of other superb folk art sculptures and The Milwaukee Public Museum
Small collection of decoys purchased from William Mackey Jr., including several birds pictured in his book, American Bird Decoys.
The Noyes Museum of Art, Oceanville, New Jersey
More than 350 historic New Jersey decoys and contemporary decorative bird carvings.

The Peabody/Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts
Outstanding collection of Massachusetts decoys by Crowell, Lincoln, Nichols, and other masters.

The Charles Perdew Museum Association, Henry, Illinois
Preserves the home Perdew built in Henry.

The Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vermont
The largest, finest and most comprehensive decoy collection on public exhibition, including the Joel Barber Collection. Masterworks from all regions, as well as a large selection of decorative and miniature carvings by Crowell. Lincoln, and Tuckerton Seaport, Tuckerton, New Jersey
A maritime village that encompasses seventeen historic and recreated buildings including a gallery of New Jersey coast decoys.
The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury, Maryland
Historic decoys and contemporary decorative bird carvings.

COLLECTOR’S GROUPS AND SHOWS
ORGANIZATIONS

Canadian Decoy and Outdoor Collectibles Association
Holds an annual show and publishes a quarterly newsletter.

Long Island Decoy Collector’s Association

Midwest Decoy Collector’s Association
National, 1100 member group. Hosts annual North American Antique Decoy and Sporting Collectible Convention Week at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois, which includes a Guyette & Schmidt auction and the Midwest Decoy Collector's

Minnesota Decoy Collectors Association
Holds annual antique decoy and collectibles show at the Thunderbird in Bloomington the first weekend of February.

Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association
Annual show held the third weekend in March at the Holiday Inn West, Westlake, Ohio.

DDEWHERE TO BUY DECOYS: AUCTION HOUSES AND DEALERS
DEALERS AND AUCTION HOUSES

Paul Brisco
Author of Decoys of Southwest Ontario. Specialist in Canadian decoys.

Micah Brosnan
Specialist in West Coast decoys.

Decoys Unlimited, Inc.
Ted and Judy Harmon. Dealer, broker and auctioneer, decoys from all regions. Holds large annual summer auction.

Russ Goldberger, RJG Antiques
Co-author of Mason Decoys: A Complete Pictorial Guide. Decoys from all regions, with emphasis on Mason’s Decoy

Guyette & Schmidt, Inc.
The leading decoy auction firm, with four auctions each year.

Alan Haid, Classic Decoys
Co-auther of Mason Decoys: A Complete Pictorial Guide. Decoys from all regions, with emphasis on Illinois River and Mason’s Decoy Factory.
Gene and Linda Kangas, Creekside Gallery
Contemporary art, folk art, decoys and antiques.

Dick McIntyre, Collectable Old Decoys
Broker/dealer specializing in Southern decoys.

Northeast Auctions
Outstanding Americana and sporting art sales that often include decoys.

Stephen O’Brien Jr. Fine Art LLC
Dealer and broker specializing in decoys and sporting art. Holds large annual summer auction, auction info at

Sotheby’s
Decoys included in auctions of American folk and decorative art. Nancy Druckman heads American folk art department;
Ron Gard is the decoy specialist.
Joe Tonelli
Specialist in Illinois River and mid-West decoys.

Home · About · News · Books · Lectures · Services · Contact