Top Level : Harvesting : Waterfowl : Duck Decoys

Pintail Drake Decoy, circa 1914.
Made by Richard Wilcoxen, Liverpool, Illinois.
Pine, 10 1/2 inches long.
Illinois State Museum Collection (1966.3, 798941)

Richard Wilcoxen was the brother of prolific carver Perry Wilcoxen. Many people said it was difficult to tell the differences in the birds of these two carvers, except that Richard usually painted yellow eyes on his decoys while Perry's often had no eyes in the curved depressions on the head. This pintail features a stylized feather pattern on the back made with a feathering comb and the Wilcoxen-style prominent chest and arched neck.

Photograph by Gary Andrashko, Illinois State Museum.