Henry Illinois Decoy Show - pic heavy

Mark Spolarich

Mark Spolarich

Well-known member
My wife and went to the decoy show today; we had a good time. There were a lot of people there, real hard to take pictures. I messed up and forgot to get a picture of Pat's display but i did talk to Tim there.

My wife kept saying "you see how much they want for that old decoy?"......lol...Needless to say i didn't come home with any.....






















 
Mark - Sorry I missed you. Looks like you had a good time. Hopefully a few blocks went home with you. :)

Lots of goodness to take in at that show. Been going on for 45 years. It's a dandy. Maybe we'll see you at St. Charles. Pat
 
Mark,

I asked for pics and man did you come through. For 11 years I've tried to make it over there and every year something happens. This year the washer blew up, It was off to Sears today for a replacement. At least there was a sale although they advertise a sale then never have them in stock! Go figure! Anyway scheduled for delivery tomorrow so I had time to clean up the luandry room and move out the old! I'll try again next year.
 
Mark,

Thank you for all of the photos! I love decoy shows but that one is just too far for me to make in a day. I will be going to the Stongville show and St. Charles though:) Every man has a weakness.
 
Thanks for sharing the pictures Mark, you captured some of my favorites from the show as well. I made it there late because of the weather but was able to take a good look around and met some folks from the site. Some great talent in the room to say the least. I walked with a Illinois waterfowl book and a wealth of ideas on starting my own collection.

Great meeting all of you and look forward to brushing shoulders again down the road in Illinois.
 
Thats me in the 7th pic with my niece in my arms, too bad we didn't meet. I did get to meet Pat, Tim and Jim and it was very nice to chat with them. This was my first Henry show and was very impressed. I have a lot to learn about the midwest decoys, after attending MN, Edgerton and now Henry in the last week, lot of neat birds that are now on my collection list. I didn't walk away with anything today, thats only because my wallet was empty from the day before in Edgerton. But I did see some really neat old Illinois river Canvasbacks that I will start researching.
 
Bill - Good to meet you and see Marty/his daughters as well. I appreciate your interest in decoys and traditional waterfowling. It makes waterfowling a much richer experience.

Take care and God bless! Pat
 
I really enjoyed the show, first one I have been to. Lots of inspiration there for a beginning carver like me!

I knew some decoys sold for a lot of money but to see them in person is another story. I kept thinking that in some cases a person sat in their garage, house, shed, etc. and carved decoys for themselves and friends to hunt over and feed the family. Now here they are commanding a pretty price and I wonder if they were alive what would they think.


If all goes well I want to see the show in St. Charles as well.
 
is that second picture a real pair of Shang's? Did he have a price on those?
Click to expand...


I don't know but I am sure someone on here will know if they are a real pair of Shang's.........and I don't recall if there was a price on them or not.



So, basically I am no help at all! LOL
 
Mark, that really had to be difficult to walk out of there without an acquisition. I sure enjoyed all the pictures. Thank you.
Al
 
I belive those are a pair of Heck Whittington ,Ogelsby,IL. mallards. He corresponded with Shang Wheeler and in some of his birds emulated Shangs style. I had the privilage to meet Heck back in the late 70s when I was starting out. Bob
 
Bob - You are correct, those are early Heck Whittington's. Other carvers that Mark captured were Charlie Perdew, Charles Walker, Robert Elliston, and, one of the few Perry Wilcoxen geese you'll ever see. Also, take a look at Gary Lane Meister's Illinois River copies of his great, great grandfather, Stephen Lane. Gary makes the finest traditional Illinois River decoys going...
 
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