Early 20th-Century French Painted Cork Duck Decoy - 11½"

This early 20th-century French duck decoy is crafted from cork, featuring a timeworn brown and black patina. The body is shaped with a simple, utilitarian form, with small nails used to create the eyes. Despite its simple carved form, this decoy remains strikingly lifelike. A metal hook is affixed to the underside, allowing for weights to be attached so the decoy could float naturally in the water. Its surface shows signs of age and use, with areas of worn paint revealing the cork beneath, adding to its rustic charm.

Duck decoys like this one were essential tools for traditional waterfowl hunting, used to attract real ducks by mimicking their appearance and movement on the water. In France, as in other parts of Europe, hunters often crafted decoys by hand, using materials like wood or cork to achieve a lightweight yet buoyant design. The muted colors and simple detailing allowed the decoy to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings, making it an effective lure.

Today, these antique decoys make striking decorative accents in rustic, country, or coastal interiors. Displayed on a mantel, a bookshelf, or a console table, they bring a sense of history and craftsmanship to a space. Their weathered surface and organic form work beautifully in curated collections of vintage hunting memorabilia or as standalone sculptural pieces that add character to a home.