Makers

Every carver and factory we track, with the bird that set their record and what a typical one brings. Tap a maker for every sale.

AllAntiqueContemporaryFactoryCape CodChesapeake BayConnecticutEastern ShoreGreat LakesIllinois RiverMaineNew JerseyOntarioOtherPacific NorthwestWest Coast
CardsTable
Mason Decoy Factory — Pair of Wood DuckMason Decoy FactoryGreat Lakes · 1896–1924$930typical sale1,022salesRecord $354,000 · Pair of Wood DuckElmer Crowell — Preening WigeonElmer CrowellCape Cod · 1862–1952$4,500typical sale438salesRecord $1,130,000 · Preening WigeonWard Brothers — PintailWard BrothersEastern Shore · 1895–1984$3,300typical sale438salesRecord $264,000 · PintailR. Madison Mitchell — Pair of CanvasbackR. Madison MitchellChesapeake Bay · 1901–1993$300typical sale372salesRecord $11,400 · Pair of CanvasbackBen Schmidt — Pair of Wood DuckBen SchmidtGreat Lakes · 1884–1968$540typical sale226salesRecord $14,400 · Pair of Wood DuckCharlie Joiner — SwanCharlie JoinerChesapeake Bay · 1921–2015$690typical sale221salesRecord $10,200 · SwanIra Hudson — Red-breasted MerganserIra HudsonEastern Shore · 1876–1949$1,200typical sale216salesRecord $102,000 · Red-breasted MerganserHarry V. Shourds — Canada GooseHarry V. ShourdsNew Jersey · 1861–1920$720typical sale172salesRecord $348,000 · Canada GooseOliver Lawson — Pair of Ruddy DuckOliver LawsonEastern Shore · b. 1938$1,440typical sale166salesRecord $39,000 · Pair of Ruddy DuckCigar Daisey — RedheadCigar DaiseyEastern Shore · 1928–2017$870typical sale145salesRecord $5,400 · RedheadGeorge Boyd — Red-breasted MerganserGeorge BoydOther · 1873–1941$1,800typical sale136salesRecord $90,000 · Red-breasted MerganserCharles Perdew — Preening Mallard HenCharles PerdewIllinois River · 1874–1963$3,450typical sale123salesRecord $168,000 · Preening Mallard HenMiles Hancock — SwanMiles HancockEastern Shore · 1887–1974$444typical sale121salesRecord $6,900 · SwanWildfowler Decoy Company — Pair of Green-winged TealWildfowler Decoy CompanyConnecticut · 1939–1986$270typical sale111salesRecord $2,400 · Pair of Green-winged TealJoseph Lincoln — Wood DuckJoseph LincolnCape Cod · 1859–1938$2,970typical sale109salesRecord $1,250,000 · Wood DuckDoug Jester — PintailDoug JesterEastern Shore · 1876–1961$675typical sale100salesRecord $8,400 · PintailHurley Conklin — Swimming Wood Duck DrakeHurley ConklinNew Jersey · 1913–1991$300typical sale94salesRecord $1,380 · Swimming Wood Duck DrakeBob McGaw — CanvasbackBob McGawChesapeake Bay · 1879–1958$270typical sale84salesRecord $4,200 · CanvasbackKen Anger — Hooded MerganserKen AngerOntario · 1905–1961$1,005typical sale84salesRecord $9,600 · Hooded MerganserDavid W. Nichol — Black DuckDavid W. NicholOntario · 1890–1977$660typical sale80salesRecord $7,200 · Black DuckGus Wilson — Preening White-winged ScoterGus WilsonMaine · 1864–1950$1,800typical sale80salesRecord $75,000 · Preening White-winged ScoterBert Graves — MallardBert GravesIllinois River · 1880–1956$2,340typical sale79salesRecord $69,600 · MallardRobert Elliston — Black DuckRobert EllistonIllinois River · 1849–1915$5,700typical sale72salesRecord $102,000 · Black DuckDodge Factory — SwanDodge FactoryGreat Lakes$390typical sale58salesRecord $168,000 · Swan

Showing the 24 most-traded of 150 makers. Show every maker. Typical sale is the median over the last twelve months; a dash means fewer than 10 sales in that window. The photo is the maker's highest sale in our records.

About this page

9,140 sales across 318 makers, every one reviewed by hand. A typical sale is the middle price of the last twelve months, including the buyer's premium — half the birds brought more, half brought less.

A change against last year is published only when both ends of the comparison hold at least 15 sales; below that it's a dash. A move that large usually means different birds came up, not that the same birds got dearer.

How these numbers are made