Fred Allen The "masterworks" Early Redhead Drake

Fred Allen (1838-1912) Monmouth, IL, c. 1880 13 1/2 in. long

In the mid-nineteenth century, before barge traffic and pollution altered the lush landscape of the Illinois River Valley, grain fields flourished, helping to sustain the already plentiful waterfowl and game bird population. Around 1860 Fred Allen established himself there as a grain broker. In his spare time, he enjoyed waterfowling, and he was soon hunting for the marketplace.

His own duck hunting experiences inspired a number of popular devices and his bestseller came in 1880 with the first commercially manufactured modern duck call, Allen’s Nickel-Plated Duck Caller. By 1892 he had redesigned the product with a cheaper wooden barrel which brought the cost down and also improved the sound. The duck call allowed Allen to retire from the grain business.

This rare redhead is among the earliest known decoys from the Illinois River region. It exhibits the low body and full cheeks seen in the small number of Allen decoys to have survived. The back features some of Allen's tight grain combing which would go on to be popular in the region.

While Allen’s hunting equipment is well-documented through his advertisements and patents, little is known about his bird carving. Examples of Allen decoys are, indeed, most rare. Original paint with even gunning wear, some minor touch-up to age lines at end of tail.

Provenance: Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection

Literature: Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. and Julie Carlson, "Masterworks of the Illinois River," Boston, MA, 2005, p. 22, exact decoy illustrated.

Exhibited: Salisbury, Maryland, “The Illinois River Meets the Chesapeake,” Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, September 2–November 13, 2005.

Provenance

Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection