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

  • THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WOOD

    THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WOOD $21.95
    $13.17

    The range of detailed information in this book is truly remarkable. Learn about the structure of wood itself, from growth rings to its chemical composition, as well as wood’s physical and mechanical properties, including everything from elasticity to nuclear radiation. This extensive manual includes a section on stress grading as well as thorough descriptions of which fasteners to use and when. The Encyclopedia of Wood is an essential resource for builders, architects, engineers, and woodworkers.

  • Lesson Plan for Woodturning: Step-by-Step Instructions for Mastering Woodturning

    Lesson Plan for Woodturning: Step-by-Step Instructions for Mastering Woodturning $24.95
    $14.97

    Written by a professional woodturning instructor with over a decade’s teaching experience, A Lesson Plan for Woodturning is a systematic, skill-building introduction that helps beginning woodturners master basic woodworking techniques on their own.

    A Lesson Plan for Woodturning provides a complete, self-directed course in woodturning safety, tools, and techniques that will help any beginning woodturner learn the basics on his or her own time. Using methods proven in the classroom, A Lesson Plan for Woodturning provides the equivalent of three semester-length classes in one book.

    Designed to give readers a thorough grounding in every essential woodturning technique, A Lesson Plan for Woodturning is systematically organized to teach basic skills that are building blocks for mastering more complex tasks. Each lesson features projects designed to develop the specific skill discussed. The structure, order and specific exercises are based on classroom-tested experience in teaching woodturning to both adult and younger students and are well tested in the classroom.

    Each project is thoroughly documented with step-by-step instructions, illustrations and photographs, showing the specific tasks, positions, and cutting motions needed to successfully complete the project. The projects are simple, direct, and focused on skill development. Readers can easily develop their own similar projects following the same general steps.

    A virtual training course in one book, A Lesson Plan in Woodturning is the next best thing to having your own personal woodturning instructor. This is the most practical book for the home hobbyist who wants to thoroughly master the fundamentals of woodturning.

    About the Author: The founder and senior instructor at the Mount Diablo Woodturning Center, Jim Rodgers is a professional educator who has been teaching woodturning to both adults and youths for over a decade. Rodgers lectures throughout the United States and has published many articles on woodturning.

  • PLUMBING BASICS

    PLUMBING BASICS $7.98
    $4.79

    Solve emergencies such as backed up drains, sinks and toilets. Learn to repair faucets, sinks and toilets. Working with PVC or CPVC as well as copper, and galvanized. Includes instructions for completing a range of plumbing jobs. Basic plumbing for the homeowner.

  • THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED G/T TURNING *NO LONGER STOCKED*

    THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED G/T TURNING *NO LONGER STOCKED* $39.95
    $23.97

    A step-by-step pictorial reference that covers all of the essential techniques for turning wood. Organized for quick access, this book makes it easy to find exactly the technique you are looking for. Over 850 photos and drawings illustrate how to hold, sharpen, and use turning tools, use specialized chucks, deep hollow elegant vessels, finish at the lathe and much more. Raffan is an internationally known turner and teacher with numerous turning books to his credit. He lives in Canberra, Australia.

  • GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP

    GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP $24.95
    $14.97

    Green construction is the building trend of the decade, and this book contains down-to-earth explanations of green building basics, site planning, materials selection, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality -- detailing along the way every step in design and construction, from framing to finishes. A must-have reference for contractors who want to remain competitive, and a remarkable resource for homeowners.

Call us: 800-345-4447

Full Website