Inside Decoys from Shelburne MuseumMain MenuDecoy MakingMakers represented in this projectDecoys included in this projectThe rationale behind which decoys were included in the project.About the RadiographsThe nitty gritty about how the radiography was done.BibliographyCited works and works that informed this project.About the AuthorsAbout Nancie Ravenel and Lesley Day MirlingNancie Ravenelbc84e2b969fab7c5f039797f42318c7fcfc8159bLesley Day Mirling3670b61b9eba655d6cf36db8e509081714fc05b1Shelburne Museum
Detail of head in A-P view radiograph Whistler hen decoy by Benjamin Holmes, with head attributed to Shang Wheeler
12015-03-15T05:16:30-07:00Nancie Ravenelbc84e2b969fab7c5f039797f42318c7fcfc8159b41363Radiograph taken at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Benjamin Holmes (Stratford, Connecticut, 1843-1912) Whistler Hen Decoy, ca. 1880 Wood, paint, metal, and leather Gift of J. Watson, Jr., Harry H., and Samuel B. Webb, 1952-192.216.plain2017-08-07T13:56:42-07:001952-192.216Shelburne MuseumNancie Ravenelbc84e2b969fab7c5f039797f42318c7fcfc8159b
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12015-03-15T05:17:36-07:00Nancie Ravenelbc84e2b969fab7c5f039797f42318c7fcfc8159bVestiges of a split tack that composed the eyeNancie Ravenel3plain2015-03-15T05:22:08-07:00Nancie Ravenelbc84e2b969fab7c5f039797f42318c7fcfc8159b
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12015-03-07T17:11:37-08:00Whistler Hen 1952-192.216; 27.FD14-4-B13A decoy attributed to Benjamin Holmes but thought to have a head made by Shang Wheelerplain2017-09-09T06:44:40-07:00 Though this decoy is attributed to Benjamin Holmes, it is thought that the head was replaced by Charles “Shang” Wheeler. No inscriptions or marks are noted on this decoy, apart from the accession and catalog numbers applied at the museum. This decoy was formerly in Joel Barber's collection, but is not depicted in Wild Fowl Decoys.
The head appears to be a replacement, but it cannot be determined at this time whether it was made by Shang Wheeler. It was constructed from a single block of wood and is held to the body with four finishing nails in a similar fashion seen on the Whistler Drake. There is no central fastener within the neck of the decoy. There is a notable gap between the head and the body. Vestiges of the shank-end of a nail which likely held the previous head remains in the decoy’s breast and is seen in the lateral view radiograph.
The eyes are missing, with vestiges of iron split tacks remaining at the center of depressions carved into either side of the head.
The body is made of two pieces of wood. The base board is approximately 3/4 inches thick (2 cm.) . Cut nails, approximately 3 cm in length and spaced 5/8 inches to 1 inch (1.75 to 2.5 cm.) apart, hold the bottom board in place. The nails placed at the front and rear of the decoy’s body have rusted, resulting in brown stains on the paint in these areas. A tear-drop shaped weight is held to the underside of the decoy with a slotted flat head screw. The leather loop at the front of the decoy’s underside is secured with a brass oval headed slotted screw.
A square-shaped wooden base was nailed to the underside of the decoy at some point in its history. This prevents the decoy from resting directly on the lead weight attached to the underside.
