Home Back My Cart : 0 item(s)

 

Bird Decoys of North America: Nature, History, and Art-NS

Bird Decoys of North America: Nature, History, and Art-NS
Sale Price: $24.00
Compared at: $40.00
You Save: $16.00
Product ID : 6-308

Purchase

Description

Bird decoys, which were first fashioned by Native American hunter-artists at least 1,500 years ago, are the only major folk art form to originate in North America. Today, decoys made during the heyday of decoy carving--roughly from 1840 to 1950--rank among the most avidly sought of all folk art collectibles, with some rare and outstanding examples fetching upwards of $8000,000 apiece at auction. These humble hunting tools, intended to deceive wildfowl by luring them into shooters' range, are now appreciated on many levels: as compelling works of sculpture, as exacting portraits of living and extinct species, and as irreplaceable historical objects. Successful decoy carvers of the past knew their prey intimately--spending countless hours observing game birds in the wild and then bringing their accumulated knowledge of different species' appearance and behavior to the carving bench. Because the works these artisans created were meant to attract avian eyes--conveying the essence of a bird's plumage, form, and attitude at a glance--older handmade decoys are deeply observed symbols of living birds that no merely decorative object, no matter how photographically accurate, can match. In this definitive, lavishly illustrated work, folk-art expert Robert Shaw chronicles the now-vanished era in which the great decoy makers pursued their craft. Shaw traces the natural history of North American bird species--more than sixty of which are represented in antique decoys. He relates the history of wildfowl hunting on this continent, detailing the excesses of nineteenth-century commercial hunting and the rise of a conservation movement aimed at ensuring bird species' long-term survival. He examines the distinctive forms produced in each major hunting area, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Chesapeake Bay to the bayous of Louisiana and beyond. And, with a storyteller's gift for the entertaining anecdote, Shaw puts us in touch with the lives and circumstances of the decoy makers themselves.

Products You May Like

  • PRACTICAL GREEN REMODELING: Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes

    PRACTICAL GREEN REMODELING: Down-to-Earth Solutions for Everyday Homes $24.95
    $14.97

    Going green at home can seem like an all-or-nothing proposition. Do you sell everything (including the house) and start over, building and buying only eco-friendly, renewable goods? Or do you take the advice offered up in this smart and sensible book — and remodel instead? Green building expert Barry Katz makes a compelling argument for remodeling, as he guides readers through what can be a perplexing and daunting process. Too many decisions? No worries. Katz explains how different choices impact a home’s overall green quotient, as well as its bottom line. Emphasizing off-the-shelf materials, the book shows how homeowners of ordinary means can “green up” a remodel, resulting in less waste, more energy-efficient homes, lower maintenance costs, and more comfortable, healthful environments. This is an essential guide for anyone who has ever wanted to go green but wasn’t exactly sure where to begin.

  • Carving for Kids: An Introduction to Woodcarving

    Carving for Kids: An Introduction to Woodcarving $16.95
    $10.17

    Woodcarving is a hobby that can be practiced from young childhood all the way into old age. This book aims to get children interested in carving at a very young age. A number of graded projects are presented that can be utilized by teachers, or parents, to interest children in carving. This is an excellent project book to introduce young people to the art of woodcarving.

  • TAUNTON'S WOOD CARVING BASICS#

    TAUNTON'S WOOD CARVING BASICS# $19.95
    $11.97

    From simple to more sophisticated techniques, the book includes a broad sampling of creative wood carving projects -- with step-by-step instructions and colorful photos that show you how to make each one a work of art. The projects -- designed to give beginners a working knowledge of many carving styles -- become increasingly more challenging as you move through the book. Every piece you create will hone your skills for the projects that follow. As you move from one chapter to the next, you'll learn all the valuable techniques you need to grow as a carver. The companion DVD is item #28-120.

  • Carving Found Wood: Tips, Techniques & Inspirations from the Artists

    Carving Found Wood: Tips, Techniques & Inspirations from the Artists $19.95
    $11.97

    Woodworkers of all skill levels will find inspiration and practical advice in this collection of the wisdom of 30 expert woodcarvers who create their art exclusively from found materials. Each artist is highlighted through extensive interviews, beautiful photographs of finished work, and step-by-step instructions for the techniques used. Topics include the qualities of a variety of woods, where to find usable wood, how to work with cracks and knots, and what tools are needed to make the best of what nature has to offer.

  • THE ALL NEW WOODWORKING FOR KIDS

    THE ALL NEW WOODWORKING FOR KIDS $14.95
    $8.97

    The All-New Woodworking for Kids takes an already popular book and gives it more: more projects children will love and more information in an expanded introductory section on tools, materials, techniques, and safety. Plus, this invaluable guide—one of the rare woodworking volumes created especially for kids—has been completely redesigned with thoroughly contemporary photographs. Of the nearly 40 projects included, 15 are brand-new and 25 have been redesigned. So now it’s even easier and more fun for kids to handmake a bench for their own workshop, create a DVD storage cube that spins, build a doggie diner, or craft adjustable stilts, a box with a secret drawer, and many other long-lasting items.

Call us: 800-345-4447

Full Website