Masterworks of the Illinois River

Carved bird decoys are categorized today as one of the foremost expressions of American folk art. A resource for decoy collectors, written by antiques dealer Stephen O’Brien Jr. and art historian Julie Carlson, focuses on one of the premier decoy carving regions: the Illinois River Valley. With over 110 color illustrations, the seminal publication Masterworks of the Illinois River uncovers the rich waterfowl decoy carving tradition centered in the fertile hunting grounds southwest of Chicago.

As a source of income for market gunners and entertainment for sportsmen, the hunting of waterfowl in the Illinois River Valley experienced a heyday from about 1860 to 1940. A cottage industry of carving emerged during this period resulting in superbly crafted and painted waterfowl decoys. These wooden birds—tools used to aid hunters of yesteryear—represent objects of desire for folk art enthusiasts today.

For over twenty-five years, avid hunter and antiques collector Thomas K. Figge has sought to assemble the finest examples by Illinois River decoy carvers. Masterworks of the Illinois River details the lives of these makers, their techniques, and identifiable styles. Selections from the Figge Collection illustrate the book and provide readers with a benchmark from which to appreciate and evaluate Illinois River decoys.