A Wooden Bird Factory Wood Duck Decoy by Ken Hopkins

This superb solid wood decoy of a wood duck drake was hand carved, stained and painted by Ken Hopkins for The Wooden Bird Factory. Founded by Ray Johnson in 1975, the company was located in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. Their logo, stamped on the bottom of this carving, was registered as a trademark in 1988. The underside of this handsome wood duck drake is signed by Ken Hopkins, identified by him as a "Woodduck" and dated 5/82. The words "HAND CARVED IN U.S.A." confirm the original of the decoy, handy in these times of specious imports.

Kenneth Russell Hopkins, MFA (1922-2006) worked for East Coast museums such as Sturbridge Village and the Explorers Hall of the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. He moved to Olympia, Washington in 1965, retiring there in 1982. He then began his second career carving decoys.

The duck is beautifully carved, its crested head with its bright red glass eyes turned to its right. The short, colorfully painted bill has a carved nail at the tip. The areas that are stained brown allow the beautiful wood grain to show through. Painted areas include the white chin strap, wing feathers and breast feathers and the broad black tail.

The bird measures 13 inches long, 6 1/4 inches high to the top of the head and 5 inches across the breast. It weighs just under 2 pounds and is about 2/3 the size of an actual drake wood duck. It's in exceptional condition, with some nicks and dents to the wood but no breaks, chips, paint loss or other damage. This duck has obviously been appreciated and well cared for over the last 40+ years.

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