Vintage Large & Heavy Painted Carved Wood and Metal Golden Carp Fish Decoy
Description: A very nice vintage large carved wood fish decoy in the form of a large carp. This decoy appears to be carved of a single piece of wood and is painted in various shade of gold with off-white bottom. The decoy, which is over 11 inches long, has painted metal (tin?) fins and has nicely carved details. The decoy is carved to show the general form of the fish with side fins, gills, a mouth, details of the tail, and the scales all over the body. The body of the fish is slightly curved at the tail. The fins are inserted tin pieces that have been painted. The fish has two red and black plastic eyes and heavy wire whiskers at the end of the mouth. The decoy comes equipped with four metal loops on top to hang from and has metal weights (lead?) on the bottom. The piece is marked r.a., which we assume are the initials of the carver. A nice and substantial vintage decoy which would make a great addition to your collection. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Uncertain, but most likely sometime in the mid to late 1900s (mid to late 20th century).
Origin: Purchased at an estate auction in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Size: Measures ~11" long, ~3 1/4" at its widest including the fins, and about ~4 3/4" at its highest including the bottom and top fins. The piece weighs about 13 ounces.
Maker: Unknown.
Marks: Marked r.a. on the bottom of the fish.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: Truly a nice and very interesting fish decoy. A beautiful and nice piece which would make a worthy addition to your collection of fish decoys.
Condition: The decoy is in very good condition, with no breaks, cracks, or repairs. The piece has s few minor scratches, some dings to the surface, and some losses to the paint but nothing of true concern. The piece has minimum wear to the surfaces and minimum paint losses to the body. A truly nice piece worthy of a spot in your collection. Please view the photos for additional condition information.
