Charles Schoenheider, Sr. Pintail Pair

Charles S. Schoenheider, Sr. (1854-1944) Peoria, IL, c. 1900 An exceedingly rare pair of hollow Illinois River decoys by the maker. There are only two Schoenheider pintail hens known. The decoys exhibit delicately carved heads with glass eyes, and carved bill detail. The drake has superb combed paint detail on the entirety of its back. Original paint with remnants of varnish and even gunning wear. Touchup to a tight crack in drake’s head and the hen’s bill tip.

Literature: Stephen B. O’Brien, Jr. and Julie Carlson, "Masterworks of the Illinois River," Boston, MA, 2005, front cover and pp. 42-51. Paul W. Parmalee and Forrest D. Loomis, "Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois," DeKalb, IL, 1969, pp. 331 and 332, plates 283 and 284, similar decoys illustrated.