Inside Decoys from Shelburne Museum

Whistler Drake 1952-192.215; 27.FD14-3-B

This Whistler drake decoy is attributed to Benjamin Holmes, but thought to have had its head 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. The decoy came to Shelburne Museum from Joel Barber's collection, but is not depicted in Wildfowl Decoys.

The head on this decoy does appear to be a replacement. It is constructed in three pieces in an unusual manner. The first piece forms the section of the head that extends from the neck to just below the eyes. The second is between the eyes and the top and may have broken off the first at some point in time. The third block, rectangular in shape, forms a plug within the top of the second piece and is held in place with a pair of finishing nails. This plug hides a channel through which a wire nail was inserted to help secure the head to the body. Four finishing wire nails, approximately 3 3/4 cm. long and located on each side of the head, further attach the head to the body. Whether or not the head was made by Shang Wheeler cannot be determined at this time.

The eyes are missing, but vestiges of iron split pins are noted within the carved depressions on either side of the head and on the radiographs.

The body of the decoy is constructed from two pieces of wood in a manner generally consistent with descriptions of Benjamin Holmes’ technique. The flat bottom is about 5/8 inches (2 cm.) thick and is held to the top with cut nails. Less dense areas in the radiographs noted around these nails in the radiographs suggest that they have corroded, and thus are likely to be iron, not copper, as described by Barber in Wildfowl Decoys (Barber 1934, 81). A tear-drop shaped lead weight is secured to the bottom with a slotted flat headed screw. A leather loop is attached to underside of the duck’s breast with a slotted oval headed 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. No buck shot or other evidence of having been gunned over is noted within this object.