Vintage Illinois River Mallard Decoy By Tube Dawson Circa 1930 For Sale

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Rare Mallard Drake duck decoy by Walter “Tube” Dawson of Putnam Illinois. Circa 1930. It is 16” long, 5 1/2” wide and 7” high. It is hollow carved 2-piece construction with glass eyes. It is actually a Pintail decoy that has a wonderful working repaint as a Mallard drake with a nice dry surface. The bird has very light wear overall and the paint is strong. The decoy has a great appearance. The original keel weight is attached.

This is fresh out of an estate in the central Illinois River valley not far from Putnam, Dawson’s hometown. No repairs, no damage, just an honest old decoy right out of the burlap bag.

Walter Dawsonwas one of Illinois most famous and prolific carvers.At seventeen, he began carving decoys - an interest he was to pursue for the next fifty years. During this time, in addition to his professional work as a carpenter and house builder, he made wooden decoys, duck calls, single-bowed fishing boats and several double-bowedduck boats.Dawson learned the carpentry trade from his father, but his first love was hunting. Beginning in 1905, he shot for the market in the fall, winter and spring until market hunting was outlawed in 1918. Heconstructed the hollow-bodied decoys, mostly mallards and pintails, from red cedar or white pine in either two or three sections. The bodies were held on a carving horse he devised and then roughed out the blockswith a drawknife.He hollowed out the interiors and smoothed them on ahomemade belt sander.He rough-sawed the heads with a band saw and finished them by hand with a pocketknife. For additonal information, please see "DECOYSand DECOY CARVERS of ILLINOIS"by Parmalee & Loomis, published by Northern Illinois University Press in 1969.

This is a classic Illinois River decoy for your collection. Shipping charges 20.00 lower 48 states.

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This item has been shown 321 times. Vintage Illinois River Mallard Decoy By Tube Dawson Circa 1930 : $605