Ira Hudson Exceedingly Rare Wood Duck Drake

Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949) Chincoteague, VA, c. 1945 13 1/4 in. long

"There is a couple who run a bed and breakfast on Chincoteague that tell a story," writes Henry Stansbury, "of how Ira Hudson would walk into town with a basket of decorative birds he had carved and painted to either sell them to merchants or barter them for merchandise." Today Hudson and his family are as well known for their whimsical decorative carvings as they are for their gunning decoys. Hudson wood ducks of any size are exceedingly rare and a review of Stansbury's "Ira Hudson and Family" book reveals that no two appear to be carved in the same fashion. The grand crest with fluting on this full-size decoy relates closely to those seen on some of his miniatures.

Through sculptures such as this one, Hudson planted his flag as the South’s greatest waterfowl folk artist of the era. This resourceful maker carved his decoys from a variety of wood types, including driftwood and old ships’ masts. In addition to working decoys, Hudson carved miniatures, decoratives, and fish. Original paint with light wear, a couple small flakes on rear left side, and tight crack under tail.

Literature: Henry H. Stansbury, "Ira D. Hudson and Family," Lewes, DE, 2002, pp. 142-157, decorative wood ducks illustrated.