Ike Phillips (VA), Black Duck

Wachapreague, Virginia, circa 1910, carved and painted wood.

Length 16.25 in.

Former collection of DC North.

Active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he crafted working decoys—often black ducks and bluebills—with elongated bodies, inletted heads, and pronounced breasts. Using local woods like cypress and myrtle, his decoys were designed for hunting and are now prized for their folk artistry and patina. Phillips also guided visiting sportsmen, building his legacy along Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Old gunning paint, working repair to the neck.