Name/Title
Decoy, Goldeneye (Drake)Entry/Object ID
4.44.11821Description
This wooden decoy from the 1940s provides an example of how varied decoys' construction could be. Although the artist who created this decoy and its mate is unknown, the flat painted body in the East Coast style differs from many of the other decoys in the collection.Context
Duck decoys have a long history in America and can be viewed as a uniquely American art form. Over 2000 years ago, Indigenous people used decoys made of reeds and colored with natural dyes to mimic the waterfowl and lure wary ducks into bow and arrow range. Europeans arriving in America learned the art from the Indigenous people and applied their wood crafting skills to make lifelike wooden decoys.
In the early 1800s, harvesting ducks became an important food source for early immigrants. However, as wetlands were drained for agriculture, duck populations dwindled. Many city dwellers wanting to carry on the tradition of waterfowl hunting traveled long distances to the remaining marshes that rimmed Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay. By 1854, the first hunting club was chartered and protected these areas from continued drainage. The demand for decoys grew, and the manufacturing of wooden decoys started before the turn of the century. Today, most hunters use lightweight plastic decoys.Collection
Magee Marsh Wildlife AreaLocation
Building
Magee Marsh Visitor CenterOhio State Wildlife Area
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
