freedom to the ducks  

Thanks for the videos ! Charming. I guess in the construction video the duck's bill is being shaped to fit into a v-groove in the bottom of the head, using a little vertically-oriented shaper ? Most interesting.

Just got a feedback from

Ah, a happy ending.

You know, that pedestal, while it was certainly the focus of much ire on this post, is probably the whole reason the item was able to be procured for the price it was. Without seeing a label, and dropping it into Google, it was just another wooden toy to the seller ...... now if it will just give its final gift, and release the rest of that label.

Hi.

I'll bet that the previous owner glued the sweet duck to the tragic trophy pedestal mostly to protect the foil label. Luckily it was somewhat a successful strategy, in that the recent surgery quickly changed the "price per pound" on this old bird...as the previous owner would have hoped for??...I guess. Enough label residue remains on the piece for most die hard collectors. The wood pedestal should saved for future conversation.

Hello,

Aunt Mark

ps. My cousin collects wood duck decoys. Quite an impressive collection. Mostly by one carver. hi.

And now you know the perfect way of revenging yourself on said cousin, should the need ever arise. You will only need a few dozen perfectly manicured slabs of white oak and a bottle of Elmer

Haha.

I'll ask permission to photograph my cousins duck decoy collection. A ruthless collection ( he bought quite of few pieces whilst driving in "disguise" a a beat up old Buick Electra when scouting certain decoys, and was forced to buy an old Mercedes with another decoy purchase). A big article in a big magazine a few years back. Big. He now uses spotters. Not my thing. I like pants. And shoes. And pet chickens. And I like y'all.

oh birds,

Aunt Mark

ps. don't forget to feed the birds. they are our friends.

Ah, good news from

Thanks, spanky. Both pieces of the head, then, start out as turnings. Most of the beak turning becomes waste -- unless the process begins by cutting the beak turning in half -- or in quarters ? That's not a simple matter, either.

Does oak seem an odd choice for these little beasts, considering its granular coarseness ? Of course, the result is lovely, and sturdy.

They're teak, not oak! I think Dr. Poulet said the added base was oak. Hans B