Albert Laing (1811-1886)
A gentleman carver who enjoyed hunting and fishing, Laing moved from Rahway, New Jersey to Stratford, Connecticut around 1863 (Engers 2000, 82). Though he maintained a journal at various times during his life, a good deal of his life remains a mystery (Chitwood 1987, 17).
In his reading of Laing's journal written during his Stratford, CT years, decoy collector and historian Henry C. Chitwood notes that Laing never discusses decoy making, despite the detail he affords to his other pursuits, leading Chitwood to conclude that Laing made his decoys prior to moving to Connecticut (Chitwood 1987, 19). Chitwood separates Laing's oeuvre into three stylistic groups: narrow bodied hollow decoys made with a thin, flat base board; wider bodied decoys with a thin base board; and those more commonly associated with Laing with a body seam that would sit above water level (Chitwood 1987, 21). He also suggests that, during his lifetime, Laing gave decoys in need of repair to younger Stratford-area decoy carvers Benjamin Holmes and Bruce Weller, who used them as patterns. A black duck marked "LAING" in this study is thought to have been re-headed by Benjamin Holmes (1952-192.47).
There is agreement in the literature that Albert Laing made decoys for his own use, not for financial profit, and owned 111 decoys at the time of his death.
There is agreement in the literature that Albert Laing made decoys for his own use, not for financial profit, and owned 111 decoys at the time of his death.
Eight decoys in Shelburne Museum's collection are attributed to Albert Laing; all of them came to the museum through Joel Barber's collection.
