Ira Hudson (1873 - 1949) was an American boat builder and prolific decoy and shorebird carver from Chincoteague, Virginia. He created over 20,000 decoys during his lifetime, full sized and miniatures.[1]
Ira Hudson | |
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 Ira Hudson and his wife Eva at home in Chincoteague | |
| Known for | decoy carving |
Hudson's carvings were primarily of local waterfowl, using no patterns so each carving had a unique design.[2] The decoys were carved out of available materials including ship masts and telephone poles.[3] By the early 1900s people had begun collecting decoys for decorative purposes and Hudson was one of the first carvers to add details such as feet and wings to his carvings in response.[4]
Hudson has been called a "legendary name" in decoy carving.[5] His decoys, which sold for $4 for a dozen during his lifetime, sell at auction for tens of thousands of dollars.[6][7]
The "Hudson style" of decoy usually includes a flowing bill shape and a full flowing or "fat football" shaped body, though he experimented with many styles.[8][9] He used feather and scratch painting, and carved both rounded and flat-bottomed decoys.[10]
Personal life
editHudson lived in Chincoteague with his wife Eva where they raised nine children, three of whom became commercially successful decoy carvers of their own.[9] His grandson's L. Bob Hudson and Ira C. Hudson are also carvers.
- Ira Hudson Carvings
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Room of decoys -
Decoy close-up -
Miniature duck carvings -
Single bird in flight carving
Further reading
edit- Ira D. Hudson and Family - Chincoteague Carvers by Henry H. Stansbury. ISBN 0972442308
References
edit- ^ "Miniatures". American Sporting Classics. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ Stansbury, Henry H. "Books by Decoy Magazine". Decoy Magazine. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ "Exhibit Detail". San Francisco International Airport. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ "Article: Ward brothers carved niched in art world for wildfowl decoys". Bay Journal. 2001-03-01. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ "Orvis Decoys". Orvis. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ "$1.6 Million Decoy and Sporting Art Auction". Maine Antique Digest. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ "Record Price For Decoy Of $830,000 Established At Guyette And Schmidt's". Antiques & The Arts Weekly. 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ "old duck goose swan brant shorebird decoys for sale". old-decoys.com. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ a b "Ira Hudson". Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art Salisbury MD. 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
- ^ D'Ambrosio, Paul S. (2004). Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. Routledge. p. 266. ISBN 9781135956158.