 | | AN IMPORTANT mallard drake by Hucks Caines, circa 1910. Purchase price: $189,500. |
Ducks in a Row
The rule of thumb for collecting decoys seems to be straightforward: Enthusiasts should invest in the best examples in the price range in which they are comfortable. “How you spend is more important that what you spend,” Guyette advises. “A really good $1,000 decoy will increase in value just as well as a good $10,000 decoy.”
The trick is in determining which decoys are the “good” decoys. Many new collectors hire consultants. With decoys coming from various regions, different carvers and in myriad conditions, most collectors realize that there is no shame in asking for assistance. “Hiring a decoy consultant is just like hiring a financial advisor to help with your investments,” Engers says. “A good consultant will alert a new collector to quality birds and their approximate worth. It is then up to the buyer to decide if he or she likes it and wants to spend hard-earned money on it.”Some devotees, however, take the path less traveled. They find that the more rewarding method for uncovering investment-quality birds is by immersing themselves in decoy culture. Engers suggests buying auction catalogs, trade magazines and “stacks and stacks of decoy books,” prior to sticking a toe into this particular pond. Experience provides the most valuable education; the greatest advantage long-time collectors have over newcomers is the ability to make wise choices in the heat of the auction house sales floor. “If you’ve seen 100 Ira Hudson black ducks, you’ll get to know which ones are good and which ones are not,” Engers explain. “If you’ve only seen three, you probably won’t.” Immersion requires a considerable time investment, traveling to shows and auctions, talking to experts and asking questions. “Talk to collectors and ask them why this bird is worth $35,000 while a similar one is only worth $3,000,” Engers adds. “Believe me, this is their passion, and they are more than happy to talk about it.” Despite the heady prices of today’s market, many of the collectors seem to have settled on an uncomplicated fact: Investment-quality decoys are works of art that may be enjoyed for their aesthetic qualities. Because of this, many successful collectors give credit to their gut reactions. If they fall in love with a particular decoy, regardless of price, that one will most likely become a jewel in their collection. “Collecting decoys should not just be an investment exercise,” Sotheby’s Druckman contends. “The craftsmanship that went into these birds is astounding, and collectors should find something of the joy and beauty in these creations.”
Photography courtesy Stephen B. O'Brien Jr. Fine Arts.
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