Michael Vallero Spring Valley, Illinois Carved Mallard Duck Decoy

Circa 1920-1930 with Original Paint

"A little-known commercial carver, Michael Vallero (1906-83) worked out of the basement of his Spring Valley home, shipping decoys to sporting-goods stores in Peoria and Chicago for asle. His decoys were used by local hunters, many of whom could not afford $36 a dozen for Perfew decoys—Vallero decoys sold for $1 each. They were quality birds none the less, with long, hollowed, and nicely rounded bodies and well-turned heads. Most of his decoys were painted by Edna Perdew or Henry Holmes during the 1920s and 1930s: since he could not paint well, he only primed them and sent them out to be painted before he sold them"

From "The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys" By Joe Engers, Bill Buckner

SOLD