A Magnificent Collection
About 18 years ago I purchased hundreds of ice fishing decoys, both fish and critters. At that time I "squirreled away" the most interesting. Just tonight (9/18/06) I opened the first box. It contained 55 of the most amazing decoys including 6 turtles, 1 pig, 3 frogs, 5 water bugs, 4 dragonflies, 1 mermaid, 1 snail, 1 beaver and 33 fish. Over the next few weeks I will photo them to place on this page. Yes, they will be for sale as it is time to share these beauties with others. You will not be disappointed.
Please click on the small images to view a large photo.
    
 
LARGE Beautiful Beaver #CD92006A: This critter weighs about 2 pounds and measures 12" long by 3.5" wide. Superbly carved with great graining in the wood. Even his swivel tail is carved. The fifth photo, which is a bit out of focus, shows the detail of the tail slot. Both the swivel tail and the metal wiggle feet give this decoy life like motion when in the water. Glass eyes. One embedded lead weight. Note the face detail - nose, freckles and nail tooth. Amazing. Excellent condition. My guess is that it has never been used. The carver probably loved it and kept it on a shelf. Price: $985.00
  
   
Pig with Curly Wire Tail #CD92006B: This is the only pig decoy I have ever seen. He's wonderful. His length is 10.5" long to the end of his curly wire tail. About 3.75" across the front fins. Tack eyes. Two embedded lead weights. Amazing carving. Note the detail around the nose, the nostrils and open mouth. This working decoy has been used. Excellent patina to the wood. The metal fins and tail do show a bit more than normal surface rust. Still some paint attached though. SOLD
   
  
Mermaid Decoy #CD92006C: Well, I know I have said this before BUT this is the only mermaid decoy I have ever seen! She is 10.25" long with a width of 2.75" across her fins. The photos clearly show the detailed carving and patina. One embedded lead weight. Excellent condition. Unknown carver. Price: $985.00
   
Large Red and Black Carved Turtle #CD11106A: Wonderful top and bottom carving. Tack eyes. Length of 8". About 5.5" wide to the tips of his notched metal feet. Two embedded U shaped weights. Very good used condition. Age pattina. SOLD
    
Large Turtle with Carved Fish Detail #CD11106B: Unusual carving. Tack eyes. Length of 8". About 5.5" wide to the tips of his metal feet. One embedded weight. Very good used condition. Age pattina. Surface "chip" to one of the carved fish. Price: $1085.00
    
Very Large Turtle with Carved Fish and Hearts Detail #CD11106C: A fine example of an artist made working decoy. Tack eyes. Weighs about 2 pounds. Length of 10.5". About 6" wide to the tips of his metal feet. One embedded weight. Very good used condition. Age pattina. Price: $1185.00
    
Very Large Skull and Crossbones Turtle #CD11106D: A fine example of an artist made working decoy. Tack eyes with metal detail. Open mouth. Weighs about 2 pounds. Length of 11.5". About 6.5" wide to the tips of his metal bone shaped feet. One embedded weight. Very good used condition. Age pattina. Price: $1285.00
    
Large Brown Speckled Trout #FD91906A: This fish decoy is 11' long and 4 1/2" wide at his front metal fins. Glass eyes. Carved gills and mouth. Two embedded lead weights for balance in the water. This old working decoy shows normal use with the exception of a chip near his left eye. See last photo. Unknown carver. Price: $285.00
    
Large Rainbow Trout #FD91906B: This still bright fish decoy is 11' long and 3 1/2" wide at his front metal fins. Glass eyes. Carved gills and mouth. Two embedded lead weights for balance in the water. This old working decoy shows less than normal use. There was a note with this trout which read: Jensen, Minn. As it is not signed, it is best to consider it as carver unknown. Price: $425.00
 
  
Large Wood Fin Walleye Decoy #FD51807B: Rare and unusual with the hand carved wood fin detail. See fourth photo detail. This extremely well carved fish is 13" long with a width of 3 1/4" across the front fins. Tack eye. Carved gills and mouth. Four metal fins. Three wood fins. Two embedded lead weights. Fine painting with scale detail. Price: $585.00
 
  
Carved Scales and Open Mouth Red Eye Fish #FD51807C: VERY unusual, deeply carved, open mouth and carved scales. Red glass eyes. Metal fins. Single embedded lead weight. Lovely patina. This decoy is about 10" long with a width of 2 7/8" across the front fins. Price: $385.00
  
Green Dash Fish #FD51807D: Nicely painted and carved. Great mouth. Metal fins. Two embedded lead weights. This decoy is about 10 1/2" long with a width of 2 3/4" across the front fins. Price: $285.00
  
  
Primitive Red Fish Marked DC #FD91906C: A real beauty! This 7 3/4" working decoy is marked in two places. DC on the underside between the metal fins. A previous owner wrote the following under the head. It reads: Dan Coji, Very old, 30 50. Note that the lead weight is in three sections with a heart being on top. Very interesting. SOLD
  
Large Green Dot Fish #FD51807A: This dark green and white, dot fish decoy is 9 1/2' long and 2 3/4" wide across the front fins. Open mouth. Beautifully carved. White, red and yellow dots. Single embedded lead weight. Metal fins. Price: $345.00
  
Black and Brown Whittled Detail Decoy #FD52407A: This working decoy is 6 1/2" long with a width of 2 1/4" across the front fins. Hand carved and whittled. Metal fins. Two embedded lead weights. There is an odd carved tear drop shape under the mouth on the bottom. SOLD
  
Red, Green with Black Stripes Whittled Decoy #FD52407B: This working decoy is 5 1/8" long with a width of 2 1/8" across the front fins. Hand carved and whittled. Metal fins. One embedded lead weight. SOLD
  
Striped Whittled Decoy #FD52407C: This working decoy is 5 3/4" long with a width of 2 1/8" across the front fins. Hand carved and whittled. Metal fins. One embedded lead weight. Price: $315.00
  
Wonderful Patina Whittled Decoy #FD52407D: This decoy is 5" long with a width of 2 1/4" across the front fins. Hand carved and whittled. Metal fins. One embedded lead weight. Price: $315.00
  
Black, green and White Decoy #FD52407E: Lovely hand painting. This decoy is 6 3/4" long with a width of 2 5/8" across the front fins. Hand carved. Metal fins. One embedded lead weight. SOLD
  
Red, Black and Yellow Decoy #FD52407F: Unsigned. This decoy is 6 3/4" long with a width of 1 7/8" across the front fins. Hand carved. Metal fins. Two embedded lead weights. SOLD
   
Green Dragonfly with Tack Eyes #CD91906A: Beautifully hand carved and painted. Measures 7" long with a wingspan of 5". This working decoy shows less than normal wear to the body and a bit more than normal wear to the metal wings. Embedded lead weight. Wire legs. Wonderful colors. Price: $375.00
Note: I have placed some of the fish into the general listing to make room for the new items below. Enjoy, they are great.
  
Primitive Green Frog #CD92206A: This fellow makes me smile. I call him the clothes pin frog. So simple in design but lots of personality. He is about 5.25" long and 2.25" wide at the front fins. Pointed tack eyes. Single embedded lead weight. Excellent condition. Price: $385.00
    
Pink Crayfish #CD92206B: She's very sweet but her paint is well worn as I am sure she caught many fish. Length of 5.5" and width of 2.75" across her metal fins. Carved tail. Single embedded lead weight. Price: $385.00
Water Bug Sisters: I am sure these three decoys were carved by one person. I also think that they are in the order that they were carved. They each are 2 part construction. The first has a hook and two wires to hold the two parts together. Note the unpainted head weight. I bet that when this decoy went into the water her hooked head floated up and the weight and wires were added later for stabilization. The second decoy has a single wire but her head wiggles a bit. Then the third decoy has 2 wires to stabilize her head. Just my opinion.
    
Green Stripe Water Bug #CD92206C: About 4.75" long and 4" wide. Two part construction. Carved back. Wire legs. Two embedded lead weights. Excellent condition. Price: $385.00
   
Red Stripe Water Bug #CD92206D: Length of 5.5" and total width of 2.75". Two part construction. Wire legs. Two embedded lead weights. Excellent condition. Price: $385.00
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Brown Water Bug #CD92206E: Length of 5.75" and total width of 2.5". Two part construction. Wire legs. Double diamond carved back. Two embedded lead weights. Excellent condition. Price: $385.00
Frog and Tadpole: If you look closely at the quality of the carving and precision of the paint, you may feel as I do - that they were carved by the same person.
    
Miniature Black Dot Yellow Frog #CD92206F: Rare size. Quality workmanship. Length of 5". Total width of 2.25". Interesting glass eyes. Metal fins. Carved tail. Single embedded lead weight. Excellent condition. SOLD
   
Red and Black Dot Tadpole #CD92206G: This was the first decoy to come out of box #1. I was so pleased. Beautiful detailed painting. Quality carving. Miniature. Total length of 5.5". Total width of 2". Tack eyes. Metal fins. Wire legs and antennae. Single embedded lead weight. Very good condition. The metal fins show a bit more oxidation than normal for a working decoy. Price: $435.00
   
Miniature Pink Flowered Sunfish :A rare beauty. Never has been used as a decoy. About 3 3/4" in length. About 2" in total width. Carved mouth. Sweet pink flowers. Quality carving. Metal fins. Single embedded lead weight. Very excellent condition. Price: $285.00
  
Red, White and Blue Fish with Star Eyes #FD92206B: Quality painting and carving. Length of 5 3/4". Total width of 2". Metal fins and tail. Two embedded lead weights. Excellent condition. Price: $385.00
  
Very Miniature Fish #FD92206C: Only 3" in length! Total width of 1.5". Rare size. Detailed painting. Metal fins. Single embedded lead weight. Very good condition. Minor surface rust on metal. There was a note enclosed with this decoy. Said Renner. SOLD
The Glitter Sisters: I don't think that anyone doubts that these are from one carver! I really love them.
A carver with a sense of style and humor.
   
Miniature Green Glitter Fish #FD92206D: Decorative only. No lead weight in this 2.25" fish. Total width of 1 1/8". Five metal fins and a metal tail. Wild ball eyes. Excellent condition. Price: $285.00
   
Miniature Blue Glitter Fish #FD92206E: Decorative only. No lead weight in this 2.25" fish. Total width of 1". Five metal fins and a metal tail. Wild ball eyes. Excellent condition. Price: $285.00
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