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.

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.

"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.

A book that celebrates one of the most breathtaking and comprehensive collections of wildfowl decoys in America. Bird decoys were used for hunting in North America until the advent of hunting regulations in the early twentieth century, when decoys started to be prized and collected as masterpieces of American folk art. This handsome book is the first examination of the historic and unparalleled decoy collection at Shelburne Museum. Featuring new photography of 250 of the museum’s most important and artistically carved decoys, it includes examples made by the most respected American carvers: Charles Osgood, Lem and Steve Ward, John Blair, Bill Bowman, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Lee Dudley, James Holly, Jr., Nathan Horner, Albert Laing, Joseph Lincoln, A. Elmer Crowell, and Charles “Shang” Wheeler. The story of the collection begins with Joel Barber, the pioneer decoy enthusiast and New York architect, artist, and carver, whose gift of 400 superior examples established the collection in 1952. Several essays provide groundbreaking scholarship on the origins, construction, and attribution of bird decoys, imparting critical advancements to our modern understanding of this revered tradition.