Fish Decoy1930–19502 1/4 × 12 1/4 × 5 1/4"Painted wood, metal fins, metal baseGift of Elizabeth Ross Johnson1985.35.350Fish decoy carved of single piece of wood painted pink and yellow with curved body and tail fin and applied metal fins. One dorsal fin made of thin, painted layer of wood inserted into slit on top of body, painted yellow with black vertical stripes. 2 small metal fins, inserted into top and bottom of decoy; 5 inches from tail also yellow and black. Wing-like side fins cut of sheet metal, outlined in yellow filled in with red, top, and yellow, underside. Open mouth and carved gills painted silver over red. Body paint divided horizontally by black line: upper body deep pink; lower body yellow. Top of body outlined in yellow with silver eyes 1" from front edge. Underside of body with two conical holes lined in metal. Mounted of rod and rectangular base.1529121004Artist unidentifiedTools and EquipmentUnited StatesUnited StatesMichiganMinnesotaThree Dimensional WorksFish decoys are designed to attract game fish close enough to the surface of the water to be speared by the fisherman. Weights are attached to the fish and often molten lead poured into a cavity on the underside of the fish to keep it in the water. This example seems to be fanciful rather than an accurate depiction of a specific fish. The colors used were probably most significant in this piece for attracting certain game fish. Fish decoys usually come from the Great Lakes region where ice-fishing was most prevalent.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org19301950 1985 35 35 Fish decoys are designed to attract game fish close enough to the surface of the water to be speared by the fisherman. Weights are attached to the fish and often molten lead poured into a cavity on the underside of the fish to keep it in the water. This example seems to be fanciful rather than an accurate depiction of a specific fish. The colors used were probably most significant in this piece for attracting certain game fish. Fish decoys usually come from the Great Lakes region where ice-fishing was most prevalent.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org