Ben Schmidt - Hollow Mallard Drake
Updated September 3, 2026
| Lot number | 127 |
| Estimate | 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD |
| Auction | Fall Feature Decoy & Sporting Art Auction 2026 |
| Date | September 26, 2026 at 10:52 PM EDT |
| Auction house | American Sporting Auctions |
| Location | Syracuse, New York |
Benjamin S. Schmidt (1884-1968) Centerline, MI 17" long Hollow carved with an open bottom crossed by the original keel. Dramatically relief carved wings with relief carving around the speculums, and some primary feathers in the wing tips. Slightly turned head with rasp texturing and a bold carved bill. A prominent Michigan carver, Schmidt's carvings have been referred to as "the All American Working Decoy". Written about in Warman's Duck Decoys (Russel Lewis, 2006), Schmidt's commercial decoy production ramped up in the 1940's-50's, selling to many sporting good stores including the J. L. Hudson Department Store in Detroit, MI.Condition: Entirely original with even wear from use including paint loss to edges, a few shot scars in body and head, and a few areas of paint loss and indentations on bill
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