Duck decoy - Superb Hand-Carved Mallard Duck Decoy 30 cm – Hand-Painted Wood & Gilt Beak – European Folk Art – - Wood
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European hand-carved wooden male Mallard duck decoy, hand-painted with a gilt beak, circa 1950s–1960s, multicolour polychrome, 30 × 14 × 10 cm, in good vintage condition with patina.
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Description from the seller
Striking European hand-carved wooden duck decoy depicting a male Mallard, dating from approximately the 1950s–1960s.
A particularly decorative example, distinguished by the richness of its hand-painted finish and the remarkable attention given to the plumage. The bird has been carved from wood and painted entirely by hand, with individually rendered feathers in deep green, turquoise, ochre, burnt orange, brown, cream and black.
The sculptor has given considerable depth to the body: the wings and flight feathers are individually carved in relief rather than simply painted onto a flat surface, creating a strong three-dimensional effect. Particularly attractive is the tail, finished in unusual blue and turquoise tones, which gives the piece an elegant and highly recognizable character.
The head represents the characteristic male Mallard, with its intense green colouring, contrasting neck ring and red-painted eyes. One of the most distinctive details is the sculpted beak with a gold-leaf/gilt finish, providing a sophisticated contrast with the more traditional folk-art treatment of the body.
Its vivid palette and expressive carving place the piece somewhere between the tradition of the working duck decoy and the increasingly decorative European folk-art bird carvings produced during the mid-20th century. Today it works beautifully as both a collectible decoy and a sculptural decorative object.
The surface retains an attractive age-related patina, with minor wear and traces consistent with its age, particularly visible on some of the painted areas and gilding. These signs contribute to its authentic vintage appearance rather than detracting from the piece.
Period: circa 1950s–1960s
Origin: Europe
Material: carved wood
Technique: hand-carved and hand-painted, with gilt/gold-leaf effect beak
Subject: male Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
Dimensions: approx. 30 × 14 × 10 cm
Condition: very good vintage condition, with age-related surface wear and patina as visible in the photographs.
A highly decorative mid-century decoy with strong sculptural presence, unusually elaborate polychrome decoration and a particularly attractive blue-toned tail.
Seller's Story
Archivio51 is a business specializing in the research, selection and sale of vintage, design and collectible objects, chosen for their authenticity, aesthetic quality, history and character.
The selection mainly includes interior complements and decorative objects, vintage lighting, globes and maps, perpetual desk calendars, pharmacy and apothecary items, display mannequins and busts, walking sticks, objects in bronze, brass, marble, onyx and wood, industrial and workshop items, signs, decorative containers and other small collectible items.
Each piece is individually researched and selected, with particular attention to its period, provenance, materials, craftsmanship, original patina and condition. When possible, the object is also studied and contextualized to reconstruct its history, era and function.
Archivio51 operates primarily through online sales platforms, addressing collectors, vintage and design enthusiasts, interior designers and international clients seeking original and uncommon objects.
The goal is not merely to sell used objects, but to bring pieces with a story back to light and give them a new place, preserving their identity, charm and authenticity.
Archivio51 – Selection of uncommon, timeless objects.
Translated by Google TranslateStriking European hand-carved wooden duck decoy depicting a male Mallard, dating from approximately the 1950s–1960s.
A particularly decorative example, distinguished by the richness of its hand-painted finish and the remarkable attention given to the plumage. The bird has been carved from wood and painted entirely by hand, with individually rendered feathers in deep green, turquoise, ochre, burnt orange, brown, cream and black.
The sculptor has given considerable depth to the body: the wings and flight feathers are individually carved in relief rather than simply painted onto a flat surface, creating a strong three-dimensional effect. Particularly attractive is the tail, finished in unusual blue and turquoise tones, which gives the piece an elegant and highly recognizable character.
The head represents the characteristic male Mallard, with its intense green colouring, contrasting neck ring and red-painted eyes. One of the most distinctive details is the sculpted beak with a gold-leaf/gilt finish, providing a sophisticated contrast with the more traditional folk-art treatment of the body.
Its vivid palette and expressive carving place the piece somewhere between the tradition of the working duck decoy and the increasingly decorative European folk-art bird carvings produced during the mid-20th century. Today it works beautifully as both a collectible decoy and a sculptural decorative object.
The surface retains an attractive age-related patina, with minor wear and traces consistent with its age, particularly visible on some of the painted areas and gilding. These signs contribute to its authentic vintage appearance rather than detracting from the piece.
Period: circa 1950s–1960s
Origin: Europe
Material: carved wood
Technique: hand-carved and hand-painted, with gilt/gold-leaf effect beak
Subject: male Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
Dimensions: approx. 30 × 14 × 10 cm
Condition: very good vintage condition, with age-related surface wear and patina as visible in the photographs.
A highly decorative mid-century decoy with strong sculptural presence, unusually elaborate polychrome decoration and a particularly attractive blue-toned tail.
Seller's Story
Archivio51 is a business specializing in the research, selection and sale of vintage, design and collectible objects, chosen for their authenticity, aesthetic quality, history and character.
The selection mainly includes interior complements and decorative objects, vintage lighting, globes and maps, perpetual desk calendars, pharmacy and apothecary items, display mannequins and busts, walking sticks, objects in bronze, brass, marble, onyx and wood, industrial and workshop items, signs, decorative containers and other small collectible items.
Each piece is individually researched and selected, with particular attention to its period, provenance, materials, craftsmanship, original patina and condition. When possible, the object is also studied and contextualized to reconstruct its history, era and function.
Archivio51 operates primarily through online sales platforms, addressing collectors, vintage and design enthusiasts, interior designers and international clients seeking original and uncommon objects.
The goal is not merely to sell used objects, but to bring pieces with a story back to light and give them a new place, preserving their identity, charm and authenticity.
Archivio51 – Selection of uncommon, timeless objects.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1900-2000
Number of objects
1
Style
Pop Art
Title
Superb Hand-Carved Mallard Duck Decoy 30 cm – Hand-Painted Wood & Gilt Beak – European Folk Art –
Country of origin
Europe
Material
Wood
Colour
Multicolour
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
14 cm
Width
30 cm
Depth
10 cm
Estimated period
1950-1960
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