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   Up for auction is a matched pair of hand-carved solid cedar wooden Bluebill Decoys carved by Ralph Johnston of Detroit, Michigan in the Mid to Late 1940's. 

   Both of the heads are turned slightly to the left.  Both of these decoys have the original high quality glass eyes that Ralph used on his best decoys.  The drake has bright yellow glass eyes and the hen has brown glass eyes.

   The drake has some in-use over-paint by the hunter on the black on chest and tail.  The hen appears to be in original paint, but there is some darker brown paint on a small area of the chest.

  These big over-size decoys have 13 inch long bodies and are 7 inches wide.  Big thick bodies for better visibility to lure in passing Ducks!

   Typical of Michigan's heavy-duty decoys, but with added style, realism and artistic flare!  Awesome lines and sculpture on these hunting decoys that Ralph Johnston is famous for! 

   I have collected Michigan and SW Ontario decoys since 1974.  In over 40 years of collecting, this style of Ralph Johnston's decoys are still my favorite!  Large, thick, round and heavy-duty bodies with long tails, cut flat on the underside.  Great head patterns, detailed bill carving, great "puffy style" cheek carving and high quality glass eyes.  These decoys are cool!

   This rig of hunting decoys were purchased directly from Ralph Johnston by the hunter that used these fine decoys.  The hunter used these decoys on Lake St. Clair in the area of the North Channel (near Decker's Landing and Butch Schramm's) and in Goose Bay near the Refuge near Strawberry Island at the end of the Chenal A Bout Rond.  I recently purchased this hunters rig of Ralph Johnston decoys.

   All of the decoys in this rig were made in the mid to late 1940's and are some of Ralph Johnston's finest carving!  These are cedar bodies with bass wood or pine heads.  He even carved the tips on the underside of the bills.

   In about 1888, Ralph Johnston was 2 or 3 years old when his family moved to Lorrain, Ohio.  He grew up here on the shores of Lake Erie hunting and fishing.  In about 1916 he moved to Detroit, Michigan near Lake St. Clair with his new bride Emily Johnston (Merrinette).  

  Whether he moved to Detroit to gain employment as a pattern maker or gained employment after arriving, by August of 1917 he was a Foreman Pattern Maker for Locke Pattern Works at 102 Rudolf Street a few miles away in downtown Detroit.  During the mid 1920's is when Ralph Johnston is believed to made his first full rig of decoys for his personal use, most likely used primarily around southern Lake St. Clair near where the Grosse Pointe cities are located and also on the Detroit River.

   Ralph Johnston is one of Michigan's premier decoys carvers and was friends with other Michigan decoy carvers, like Ben Schmidt and Tom Schroder.

   These decoys retain the heavy lead weight used to keep the decoy riding upright in the rough waters of Lake St. Clair.  It retains the eye screw which the 9 to 12 feet of decoy line were tied to each decoy.  The decoy line and anchors have been removed.

   Ralph Johnston is the old picture, standing on the left.  To his right is Tom Schroder.  Sitting right to left are:  Ferdinand Bach, Ben Schmidt and Charlie Pozzini.  The picture was taken in the home of Michigan collector Phylis Ellison, my decoy collecting mentor.

   I have over 43 years of experience collecting, picking and buying & selling old wooden decoys.  Please ask any questions you may have.

***We are Michigan's largest independent Avery/Greenhead Gear  and RNT Call's Dealer and located in Livonia, Michigan.  Call 734-891-5053 with any questions.