What To Look For in Antique Duck Decoys
If you are going shopping for antique duck decoys, you need to know what exactly to look for. Different factors, such as the type of duck decoy it is, or the history, can affect the value of it. Knowing what to look for will give you an upper hand, and could possibly save you some money, or even heartache on your next antique duck decoy shopping trip.
- Age - As you probably know, duck decoys can date back to thousands of years ago. This is why age can be such a contributing factor in the value of an antique duck decoy. If you are shopping for antique duck decoys, ask the seller how old they are. Many times they will know an estimated date range from when the decoy was first created. A general rule of thumb is the older, the better.
- Condition - With antique duck decoys being so old, many of them have seen their fair share of being thrown around, knocked down, and banged up. You can't expect antique duck decoys to be in flawless condition, but you have to take into consideration any noticable damage on the duck decoy. First, look for any major damage, such as holes, or chunks missing out of the decoy. Second, check for surface damage, such as paint wearing off, or scratches on it.
- Who Carved It? - Try to find out who carved the antique duck decoy. There are many famous duck decoy carvers, and their decoys can be worth a considerable amount more. Oftentimes, if the decoy has paperwork, it will list the carver on it. If you can find out the carvers name, do some research on it, and see how popular their duck decoys are.
- Documentation - Oftentimes some of the most valuable antique duck decoys have paperwork with them. It will often list some of the most important facts about the duck decoy, such as the carver, the time period from when it was created, the type of duck decoy it is, and more. Finding antique duck decoys with documentation can be like finding a diamond in the rough, so keep your eyes open for them.
- Rarity - The rarity of an antique duck decoy will always play a large contributing factor in the value of it. If there are only a couple of a certain type of antique duck decoy left in circulation, then it would be considered rare, and collectors would generally pay more for it.