Ken Anger Wood Duck Drake

Ken Anger (1904-1983) Dunnville, Ontario, Canada 13" long

Anger was a highly regarded commercial decoy carver whose work became a defining part of the Dunnville carving tradition. An avid hunter and fisherman, Anger developed a distinctive style characterized by substantial bodies, detailed carving and heavily rasped surfaces. He was strongly influenced by carver Peter Marshall Pringle (1878-1953), whose higher-profile, heavily textured decoys helped shape Anger’s evolving style. Anger went on to become one of Canada’s most celebrated decoy carvers of his time, winning multiple blue ribbons at the National Decoy Contest in New York in 1948 and 1949.

A rather rare species for the maker, this example stands out for having the feathering individually painted across the back with all different shades of iridescent colors as Anger sought to most accurately reflect the colorful species. The decoy has Angers classic rasped head, incising in the wings and speculums, and general light surface rasping to impart texture. The decoy has glass eyes and a carved bill. Tight comb feather paint across the sides with an overall appealing and unformed mellow surface.

Condition: Excellent and original with felt removed from base