'Markham Rig' bufflehead drake, c. 1900

The only 'Markham Rig' bufflehead drake still in original paint, as far as is known. Just who carved the Markham decoys is uncertain. The rig was found some years ago in a small town northeast of Toronto; hence the name of the rig. There were several redheads, bluebills, buffleheads and teal. A number, unfortunately, were put through a 'dip tank' and stripped of paint by an antiques dealer who favored old wooden objects that had been 'cleaned up' - all the rage back in the 1970's. This little guy survived, thankfully!!! This decoy is pictured and described in "Bird Decoys of North America", by Robert Shaw, former Curator of the Shelburne Museum, VT.