Old Decoy
- Thread starter Joe Atwoo
- Start date
jode hillman
Well-known member
It is a modern repro, of a Dudley ruddy duck
How can you tell? Also, what's considered "modern" by repro standards. I have known this decoy since 1979 and it has always looked as it does now. I'm definitely not saying it's not a repro because I have zero clue about decoys but want to know more about this one in particular.
It's considered "modern" because Lee Dudley has been dead for over 80 years. This is a picture of an actual Dudley ruddy. FWIW the last one I know of to go to auction sold for something like $240,000, give or take $20-30,000.
Thank you very much. Helpful
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Joe~
I saw such reproductions in the early '80s at the Ocean City decoy show. I do not recall the carver - but almost bought a "Dudley Canvasback" - for $80 or $90....
I saw the original several years ago (January 2021?) at the Shelburne Museum in VT - as part of a Joel Barber exhibit. The Shelburne has most of his collection. The Dudley Ruddy was displayed high up on the wall - out of harm's way - and a bit too high for good photography.
Someday I will honor this bird in watercolors. I first saw him in Barber's WILD-FOWL DECOYS when I was about 12. The decoy told me that I just had to carve.....truly inspirational!
All the best,
SJS
jode hillman
Well-known member
For Starters the Carver was honest and carved his name in the bottom. That's some thing Many do not. The overall form shape and size are close but not a perfect match for an original Dudley. The antiquing process, wear patternsand the overall patina on the paint again or clues as to its more modern origin.
The original Dudley's would've been carved over 100 years ago. So I'm defining modern as anything not of that era.