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Detroit's Factory Decoys

On Display at DU's Waterfowling Heritage Center
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
Memphis, TN

Detroit Dynasty

This exciting exhibit celebrates Detroit's original "Big Three" — decoy makers George Petersen, Jasper N. Dodge, and William J. Mason. This pioneering trio of early decoy manufacturers produced thousands of working waterfowl decoys from the late 1800s to the mid-1920s.

Detroit Dynasty

James Goodman's collection of wooden mallard decoys highlights the gradual evolution of Detroit's commercial decoys, from the early backyard models to the later mass-produced Mason's. This display captures the profound impact that these three factories had not only had on one another, but also on numerous decoy makers throughout North America. The collection marks another chapter in Waterfowling Heritage Center's efforts to chronicle the remarkable story of American waterfowling.


Early Factory Mallard

Early Factory Mallard Drake
George Petersen Factory

By 1873, Petersen was producing decoys for the waterfowling market. These early decoys had thin bodies and narrow heads.


Premier Canvasback Pair

Premier Canvasback Pair
Mason's Decoy Factory

This pair of very early Premier Canvasbacks with extremely long bills are pictured on the dust jacket of Detroit Decoy Dynasty.


Middle Factory Mallard Pair

Middle Factory Mallard Pair
J.N. Dodge Decoy Factory — Circa 1885

These mallards represent the Dodge Factory's finest work. The boldly painted glass-eye Number 1 decoys are from the Peter A. Lee Norman group of samples.


Mason Premier Mallard Pair

Mason Premier Mallard Pair
Mason's Decoy Factory

During the 1890s, Mason's factory produced its most detailed and finest decoys. This hollow Premier-grade pair exhibits Mason's best paint patterns.


Collaborative Mallard Drake

Collaborative Mallard Drake
J.N. Dodge and William Mason

During the 1890s, demand for greater quantities and less expensive decoys increased. It is believed that the Mason and Dodge factories freely interacted to mass-produce decoys. This decoy has a Mason head with a Dodge body and paint scheme.


About the Curators

James Goodman

James Goodman

James Goodman began collecting factory-made Detroit decoys more than 30 years ago. In addition to being a passionate decoy collector, he is a lifetime member of Ducks Unlimited and an avid duck hunter. He lives in western Iowa and is a member of the Greenhead Duck Club.

William A. Dodge

William A. Dodge

William A. Dodge has been collecting decoys for over 40 years. He is a historian of Dodge Decoys and the author of Detroit Decoy Dynasty: The Factory Decoys of Petersen, Dodge, and Mason.

Together, Jim and Bill have curated this exhibit of Detroit Factory Decoys to display the relationship between the three early factories and their influence on the North America's decoys.


Visit these websites for more information on North American decoy collecting:

For more information, call 901-291-8257.

View Brochure in PDF »


Credits

Used with Permission. Ducks Unlimited. Waterfowling Heritage Center.

Shelburne Museum Display