King
I use a set of Ward Brother decoys that would sell for near 100K, at the right auction. Not to brag and I am by no means that rich, but I found them at the dump. Had several of them repainted and signed by Steve and Lem before they died. They could tell me the exact year when they were made because they altered the tail for a short time and went back to the original design later.
I have had more than one collectors or experts say that my decoys looked just like real Ward Brother decoys from the blind. They all get a real funny look when I tell them that the reason that they look like them is that they are real. Hod one fellow reach for his wallet on the spot. Sad he was when I told him that they were not for sale. We are very gentle with them and never shoot low. But when you get right down to it they were meant to be used and I am doing that. I never heard of a virgin decoy bringing a premium. Besides the Black Ducks just love them.
Ward Brothers were two barbers from Crisfield Maryland, who carved decoys in their shop, when it was slow. They figured that they got $18.00-20.00 a dozen for these decoys. They said they had sold some for less than $10.00 a dozen when times were hard.
I found half a pickup load of old wooden decoys at the dump. Someone had cleaned out a garage or attic and just hauled them off to the dump. Picked them up for the weights. Only later, at home, did I figure out what they were when washing them off with a hose. Wife bitching about bringing home more junk than I left with. Big grin on my face when I told her that they were worth almost as much as our house back then. Bigger grin when she finally learned that I was not kidding. Next door neighbor offered to buy them for $10,000.00 on the spot. Wife BITCHING a lot when I turned him down. I do not miss that exwife or her bitching and I still have the decoys to enjoy.
Why sell something that you enjoy, just for money that will soon be gone? Money helps but life is not about money. It is about enjoying life.
