Lake Country This Month

Q. I enjoy your column and am submitting my Mason duck decoy for con- sideration. It was handed down to me from my late father. — E.P., Oconomowoc A. Decoys are carved wooden replicas of ducks and shore birds used to lure waterfowl to hunters. Although I thoroughly enjoy looking at duck decoys, I know a category specialist who has seen thousands of examples and could give expert insight. Roger A. Ludwig is presi- dent of the Wisconsin Sport- ing Collectibles Association and on the board of direc- tors for the Midwest Decoy Collectors and has appraised for 36 years. Roger always takes Lucy, his faith- ful 12-year-old Labrador and often wears his duck-shaped Packers pin. He can be found at the annual Milwaukee Public Television Appraisal Fair this October and the Oshkosh Decoy & Sporting Show event every March. Earliest decoy examples were crafted by Native Americans from vegetation like reeds or cattails. Since their primitive arrows couldn't reach flying birds, they crafted imitation mod- els convincing ducks to land nearby. Colonists continued to capture this vital food source by carving look-a- likes of ducks from buoyant white pine and cedar. The word "decoy" is a contrac- tion from the Dutch colonists' word "EndeKooy," a cage that wild ducks were driven into. Decoys are one of the oldest collectible crafts in the U.S., with most found examples from late 19th and early 20th cen- turies. Up to that time, there were no restrictions on the number of birds taken. After years of unsustainable hunting of waterfowl, Congress passed a limiting law. Vintage decoys found today are classified as "fac- tory" products. However, most factories were only the size of a large garage and a long distance from hunting areas. Manufacturers uti- lized seasonal advertising in sports magazines because they had no direct contact with sportsmen. William Mason started as one such entrepreneur in Detroit from 1896-1924. His products were top-grade; he eventual- ly enlarged the facility and produced more decoys than any other maker. Era prices for one dozen decoys ranged from $3.75 to $12 for the pre- mier line. Your Mason Pre- mier decoy has only slight surface damage. It has an authentic PREMIER stamp, original glass eyes and strong surface color. Value is $2,000 to $2,500. Roger told me it was some- what by accident that he found one of his best col- lectible decoys over 30 years ago. With his love for duck hunting he was in the mar- ket to purchase a used fish- ing boat and the owner had decoys that he also wanted to sell. Thank you, Roger, for sharing your expertise with our readers! ■ Collecting decoys is appreciated and admired in spirit and is considered Americana folk art. ■ Decoys have evolved from being utilitarian and practical and have merged into the decorative art mar- ket. ■ Collectors rarely repaint older decoys. Origi- nal paint, even if scratched or faded, is critical to value. ■ Artistic expression is visible in many forms and varies by region and carver. ■ Criteria that usually dictate value are the maker and condition, and not nec- essarily age. (Barbara Eash is a mem- ber of the Certified Apprais- ers Guild of America, spe- cializing in appraisals of antiques and collectibles and has extensive experience writing and speaking about antiques.) OPEN M-FRI. 9am–5:30pm SAT. 9am–5:00pm Little Swiss Clock Shop 270 W. Main Street • Downtown Waukesha 262-547-2111 www.LittleSwissClockShop.com W atches of D istinction Stunning watches for Him and Her 250568001 FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 3B June 2016 Summer 2016 City Camp of the Arts, LLC www.citycampofthearts.com 262-781-1002 citycampofthearts@gmail.com Stonewood Village • 17700 W. Capitol Drive Brookfield, WI 53045-2006 Fax: 262-781-1084 A R T • D E S I G N • M U S I C • C R E A T I V I T Y E DU CA T I O N • A RT A N D M US I C L E SS O N S SUMMER CAMP 2016 ARTS & CRAFTS MUSIC & THEATRE Educational Workshops Children - Teens Ages 7 - 17 Guidance to Design and Creativity. Completion of all projects. Crafty Mornings Workshops Reading... Acting Scenes Improvisation • One Day Plays Team Building Thru Games Fine Art Afternoon Workshops Total 8 hours/10am-Noon (4 days) Total 16 hours/4 days a week June 20–23 4 Air Dry Clays July 11–14 Creative Weaving 18–21 Design Latch Hook 25–28 Begin Knit in 'Round Aug. 1–4 Hand Sew Pillow 8–11 Begin Lanyards 15–19 4 Air Dry Clays Total 8 hours/1pm-3pm (4 days) June 20–23 4 Air Dry Clays July 11–14 Drawing Still Life 18–21 Wire Sculpture 25–28 Acrylic Painting Aug. 1–4 Surprise Bag Sculpture 8–11 Drawing Trees 15–19 4 Air Dry Clays 10:00am–Noon Noon–1pm Lunch/Reading Time 1:00pm–3:00pm (each camper should bring a "brown bag" lunch and favorite book.) June 20–23 July 11–14, 18–21, 25–28 Aug. 1–4, 8–11, 15–19 *Reservations and Payment must be placed Two Weeks before each workshop begins Supplies Provided There will be be garden related activities and you'll get the opportunity to purchase a signed book! At 1:00 p.m. Julie will be reading the first book in her character buiding series, The Garden Gathering. THIS EVENT IS FREE... but Registration is Required. Please call 262.781.1002 or email: citycamp@citycampofthearts.com Register by July 22, 2016 250364002 www.citycampofthearts.com 262-781-1002 citycamp@citycampofthearts.com Stonewood Village • 17700 W. Capitol Drive Brookfield, WI 53045-2006 Fax: 262-781-1084 FENCE INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS TOO! Premium Residential and Rural Fence & Decking (920) 248-6495 www.behlfence.com 250608002 Submitted photo Roger A. Ludwig is president of the Wisconsin Sporting Col- lectibles Association. He appraised this decoy. BARBARA EASH Antiques Appraised Duck decoy makes a splash with value Submit an item for consideration Do you have an item or collection of items that could be shared in a future newspaper col- umn? Let Barbara Eash hear about it! To have your item or collection considered send the following information: up to three, sharp, well-lit photos of front & back of the item(s), measure- ments as well as any history or hearsay, length of ownership and your full name, address and daytime phone number. Mail: Waukesha Antique Shop, ATTN: Barbara Eash, 1427 E. Racine, Ave. Unit E-2, Wauke- sha, WI 53186 or email: beappraisals@gmail.c om. If your item(s) are considered for a future column, we will contact you. No photos can be returned and no pur- chase of items will occur.

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