The Duluth Fish Decoys Story
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I guess it all started
when I speared my first northern pike - what a thrill. The only thing
better was to spear one lured in with a decoy I made myself. I made more
decoys to spear more fish and found out I liked making decoys as much as
spearing northerns. Well, soon enough, my decoy/lunch box had more
decoys than lunch. So I laid off the making and stepped up the spearing.
Then when the fish tore them up and they scraped up against each other
in the lunch box and they rolled around on the floor of the dark-house
they weathered with an aged, charactered, antique patina. It wasn't long
before friends paid more mind to my spearing decoys than my fish
stories. Said they'd like to have some to set on the mantle - said they
were folky. So I laid off the spearing and stepped up the carving. Now
I've been making DFD (Duluth Fish Decoys) spearing decoys for longer
than I want to admit - they say you're only as old as you think you are.
Being on the north side of seventy, I been making them for... let's just
say a long time.
I don't know a web site from a stick of fire wood but the kids and
grand-kids have been pestering me to get one for years. In fact, I told
Jim, you make the web thing and I'll make the decoys that go on it. But
with the demand being more than I can keep up with, he's been making
them right alongside of me - just like when he was a kid. Great to keep
it in the family - two generations of DFD. Who'd of thunk it.
What a hoot it's been to create something so enjoyed by others. Along
the way our DFD decoys have ended up in The American Museum of Folk Art,
on a limited edition print, in a governor's mansion, in Hollywood
actors' homes, in fishing decoy books, with interior designers, in art
galleries, on a DVD, and now in a coffee table book devoted entirely to
DFD. What a hobby it's been - what a blessing of God. I hope to continue
as long as my health holds out.
Lo, these many years later our DFD spearing decoys are still
hand-crafted with that aged, weathered, antique patina. As with all folk
art there's no two alike. The pictures give the length of the decoy but
it may vary by a half an inch. They all have glass eyes and are hand
painted with a brush - no air brush for us. The lead belly weight is
stamped DFD. They all function as working decoys - though most people
prefer to set them on the mantle.
The picture above is the limited edition print (by Ronnie Wells -also
available on post card) of twenty one of our most common decoys - "the
print decoys". The DVD mentioned above shows many of the "early years"
decoys. The Duluth Fish Decoys book (click
here) is a hard covered, full color coffee table book of both
early and current work. Click
here for individual pictures of the "21 Print Decoys" with
titles (and approximate length) to identify. Also newly available is the
limited edition State Quarter decoy - click
here for details.
Well, thanks for taking a gander at the web site. Check back when you
can - may update it with new pictures and information. If you have any
questions about your DFD decoy or to see what we currently have
available, give us a
call - WE LOVE TALKING DECOYS (218) 341-9338.
If you're the e-mail type you can reach Jim at Perkins515@yahoo.com
Thanks - Dave & Jim Perkins
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