Rare Hollow Mallard Pair by Charles Buchanan Duck Decoys From His Personal Rig
Exceptional and Rare HOLLOW Working Mallard Decoy Pair by Charlie Buchanan. Hollow decoys by Buchanan are a rare find, as most of the decoys he carved were solid-bodied puddlers. He did however carve a few hollow hunting decoys, many of which he used in his personal hunting rig. This mallard pair is some of those decoys, as noted on the bottom. Augusta Ontario form his own hunting rig.
Both decoys are also branded KWR, the collector who picked these decoys from the rig. These decoys are extremely well-done and likely some of the best Buchanan ever made. Take a very close look at the paint detail on this bird.While it is subtle, it is really fantastic. Two details I like specifically are the fine feather barbs on the back of the hen and the intricate scratch painting on the side pockets of the drake. Additionally, Buchanan used some excellent carving detail to the wings and tail that really helps the features stand out.
Both decoys are over-sized, magnum decoys perfect for the water and they are very lightweight for their size. Some scattered touch-up but significantly all original paint as shown. Touch up was likely done by Buchanan while the decoys were being used in his hunting rig. The drake does have a neck crack as shown, that could easily be fixed or left as-is.
It personally never bothered me. I have done my best to document this decoy through both the text above and the photographs. I will do my best to accommodate any and all requests. The decoy you are seeing is the exact one you will be getting, therefore, there should be no surprises if you have taken the time to scroll through all the photos and read the text.
Unless the decoy is listed in 100% original paint, expect some old hunter touch-up. Almost every single decoy I have for sale was in fact a working decoy part of a larger rig and subject to typical gunning wear including rubs that were typically touched-up between hunting seasons as a way to pass the time during the off-season.Some of these decoys are more than 100 years old and over the course of many hunting seasons it is bound to happen. Born in 1911, Charlie Buchanan began carving decoys when he was 14 years old. From North Augusts, Ontario, Buchanan started carving by making some black duck decoys for his own hunting rig. Buchanan carved mostly solid-bodied hunting decoys, though he did carve a few hollow birds like these ones.
Later in life Buchanan began carving highly detailed decorative decoys after he stopped making working birds. More info and can be seen in both "Ontario Decoys I and II" by Bernie Gates. I say most because as you see some decoys will have a modest/fair-market reserve. Call it down-sizing if you will. If a decoy doesn't meet reserve, let's talk.
NOTE: As with most sporting collectibles, along with being a great addition to a game room or home decor, vintage decoys have shown to be a sound investment that seldom decrease in value. Each decoy is truly a One-Of-A-Kind item as no two hand-carved decoys are exactly alike and with so few available decoys from each carver, as time passes, they will surely only increase in value.
Be sure to add my to your favorite sellers/searches. I have many more decoys to add from all regions including the Chesapeake Bay, Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, New York, Illinois, the St. The item "Rare Hollow Mallard Pair by Charles Buchanan Duck Decoys From His Personal Rig" is in sale since Sunday, February 11, 2018. This item is in the category "Sporting Goods\Hunting\Vintage Hunting\Duck Decoys".
The seller is "dckhuntr" and is located in Butler, Pennsylvania. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada.