The history of stoneware vessel production in America and Canada is told along with outstanding photographs of over 300 important pieces from the 18th century forward. Chapters describe the hand-worked method of turning clay into pots, common and uncommon forms, marks and varieties of decoration, the glazes employed, and the firing process. This classic study is welcome in this new edition with current prices.

Sixty great contemporary decoy carvers from North America are highlighted in this illustrated book discussing artist techniques and inspiration. Full-color photographs throughout.

The wooden decoy, a truly American innovation, is symbolic of the American experience and humanity's constantly evolving relationship with nature, particularly American waterfowl. Today, decoys are a recognized and appreciated form of folk art, sought out by collectors and museums across the world.American Decoy: The Invention was the first museum exhibition of its kind to showcase over 200 world class decoys from a number of the most respected collectors and institutions in the country, including Tom Figge, Joe and Donna Tonelli, Ted and Judy Harmon, Dick McIntyre, Shelburne Museum, Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, and Illinois State Museum.

"In carved and painted wood, bird decoys capture the dynamic spirit of the creatures they represent. Originating as humble tools of the hunter's trade, antique decoys are now treasured as a uniquely North American folk-art form. In this comprehensive reference, expert Robert Shaw chronicles the evolution of hand-carved decoys form 1,500 years ago, when decoys were first crafted by Native American hunter-artist, up through the last great decoy carvers of the twentieth century. Featuring 300 illustrations--including beautiful shot images of decoys from around the United States and Canada, as well as numerous historic paintings and photographs -- this book will appeal to sportsmen, birders, and folk-art enthusiasts alike" --Cover, p. 4.

From the earliest inhabitants of the American continent to the boatwrights and carpenters who earned their livings on the shores of the Great Lakes during the Depression, fish decoys have sustained the livelihoods of spearfisherman during the coldest winters.

Being on the migrational flyway for ducks and geese, the upper Chesapeake Bay has long been a center for waterfowl hunting. Where there is hunting, there are, of course, decoys. The area around Havre de Grace, Maryland has produced some of the most prolific decoy makers in America. Usually born of the necessity of the hunt, their decoys have become highly collectable. In Upper Chesapeake Bay Decoys and Their Makers, David and Joan Hagan share their talent for photography with the reader. They illustrate the art of the decoy makers in this area with beautiful images of the birds they have formed. Usually their decoys are accompanied by the portraits of the artists and recollections and reflections on their art and experiences. Over eighty decoy makers are represented in Upper Chesapeake Bay Decoys and Their Makers. Many of them are still alive and active in their work. The decoys illustrated range from early decoys, faded and worn smooth with use, to recent decoys which go directly from the artist to the collector without ever touching the water. All of them show the skill of the artist and evoke the appreciation that has made the decoy a central theme in American folk art.