Merganser Drake Duck Decoy

This long, heavy wooden decoy is a stylized red-breasted merganser, hand carved in an upright pose and hand painted in broad blocks of color. The drake duck's usual crest of shaggy head feathers is depicted in one long, pointed sweep. The head has tack eyes and a long, thin yellow/orange beak. There are two nails through the white neck band, one on each side. Feathers and speckles are painted on rather than carved.

This is a newer decoy, meant for display, not hunting. It's 17 1/2 inches long, nearly the size of a real merganser. Across the breast it measures 5 1/2 inches and stands 7 1/4 inches tall to the top of its head. It weighs 2 pounds, 2 ounces and is solid wood. Stamped into the bottom are the initials WMW, which may stand for William M. Westfield, possibly a Pennsylvania or Ohio carver.

The duck is in excellent condition, with surface distressing by the carver the only "wear" we could find. Looks great wherever it's placed!

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