HOW TO MAKE WORKING DECOYS

GEORGE ROSS STARR, Jr.

WINCHESTER PRESS
1978

First edition.
It has been barely a generation since waterfowl decoys were finally recognized as the superb examples of American folk art that they indeed are. Since then their admirers and collectors have proliferated, and in so doing have increased both the reputation and the value of the truly fine examples of the decoy carver's art. By so doing they have also spurred a revival of decoy carving, encouraging others to pit their skills against those of older, arid sometimes anonymous, masters. Not everyone, of course, has the potential to be another Lem or Steve Ward or "Shang" Wheeler or Joe Lincoln—or, for that matter, George Starr. Yet every serious carver and would-be carver has the potential of producing decoys that will draw ducks, that will allow him to express himself in an ancient and honorable art form, and that may—as he masters his technique—permit him to create decoys of growing value to present and future experts.

How to accomplish these aims is the purpose of this book. In order to do so, Dr. Starr has depicted a number of prestigious decoys from various portions of the United States, giving the carver examples of decoy sizes, shapes, and coloration. Then he proceeds to take the carver through step-by-step procedures, recording in words and pictures each step from bare board to floating decoy. Every essential, from basic design through tools and materials to the required techniques are discussed and shown, to enable any carver to turn out decoys that will be workable and perhaps artistic.

28 x 22 cm. 164 pp + 4 colour plates.

Very good + condition. Price clipped dust jacket slightly faded on the spine (now in protective cover). Some shelf marks to the bottom edge but otherwise very clean and tidy.