VINTAGE BEN SCHMIDT SCHOOL BLACK DUCK DECOY BY BILL HANSON WIGWAM CLUB
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:23529218 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Duck Type: BLACK DUCK | Features: Antique, Solid Body |
| Brand: Mason |
Up for auction is a very cool Black duck made by Michigan’s Bill Hanson, ca. 1960. Hanson was a student of well-known Michigan maker Walt Snow who taught carving in the Ben Schmidt tradition. The decoy is in good original paint and exhibits all of the characteristics that made Ben Schmidt's work so admired including generous feather stamping, elongated primaries and great head form. Hanson made his own feather stamping tools to do this detailed work. ... The decoy was certainly hunted over and shows some paint loss to the top of the head as well as rubs to the bill, lower edges, body, and the end of the tail. It retains its good glass eyes and has its original weighted keel. Note the nicely raised wings and detailed bill carving. The head is turned slightly to the right. Clearly Hanson learned his lessons well and produced a great looking decoy. It is branded “FD” for Fenton Davidson who hunted over this decoy at the Wigwam Club on the south end of the Saginaw Bay. See Bill Stout’s book, “”Saginaw Bay: Waterfowl Hunting and Decoy Carvers, “ page 81-82 for more on the club and its members. This full-bodied decoy measures 17” long; 7-1/2” wide; and 6-1/2” tall not including the lead weight. Please ask questions or for more pictures. Shipping includes insurance and is higher outside of the USA. Thanks for looking.
