Newbury Decoy & Woodshop

173 High Rd. 

Newbury, MA 

(978)462-7873

 

Retail Sales

Big Al's 

Rte. 1 Seabrook, N.H.

(603)474-3575

 

 

 

How to Age and Value a Hank Walker Decoy

 

The Hank Walker Decoy has a long and rich history. It was started 40 years ago by Hank and his son Geof. The two Walker's carved birds consecutively in a shop first established in Salisbury, Massachusetts and later in Newbury, Massachusetts. To a great extent the birds can be aged, and therefore valued, by determining where the carving took place and which of the Walker craftsmen created the bird.

There are very easily recognized ways to begin evaluating the decoys.

Name Plates - The name plates are fastened to the bottom of the bird as shown in figure #6. The actual name plates are made of lead and are affixed to the bird by 200 year old "ham & egg" nails. The chronology of the name plates can be found in the chart below. 

No Name Plate - If your decoy has no name plate but instead is hand signed in pencil by Hank (as shown in fig. #6), this is one the earliest and most highly valued pieces. The pencil signature is also a sure sign that the bird was indeed carved and painted by Hank himself. These "pencil" birds can fetch as much as $3,500 to $5,000.

Dowels - Wooden dowels were used as an experiment by the craftsmen in the last 2 years of the Salisbury and the first 2 years at the Newbury shop.

Carved Feathers & Body Styles - Geof and Hank had distinctive carving styles. To some extent these styles are separated by the placement of the flight feathers, the squareness of the body, shape of the beak.

Paint - Both craftsmen also had individual painting styles that would be difficult to put into words for the purpose of this guide.

Chronology of Name Plated and Doweled Birds Year Value
Name plate signed "Hank Walker" only. 1969 - 1971 $1,000 - $1,500
Name plate signed "Hank Walker Decoy" only. 1971 - 1973 $800 - $1,200
Name plate signed Hank Walker Decoy - Salisbury, Mass. 1973 - 1984 $600 - $900
Name plate signed Hank Walker Decoy - Salisbury, Mass. with dowels 1982 - 1984 $600 - $800
Name plate signed Hank Walker Decoy - Newbury, Mass. with dowels 1984 - 1986 $400- $600
Name plate signed Hank Walker Decoy - Newbury, Mass. 1984 - Present $175 - $400

Collector's Note: Hank only carved Geese, Brants, Swans and Canvasbacks. Any of these birds that were exclusively carved and painted by Hank himself  (Fig. #1) would add tremendous value to the decoy. In some instances doubling the value.

Below are photos and some definitions that should assist collectors in evaluating a particular decoy.

Fig. #1 - This an example of one of the earliest birds that would normally

have a pencil signature valued at $3,500 - $5,000.

Fig. #2 - This photo shows an example of a "doweled" bird.

Fig. #3 - This photo shows three rows of flight feathers that are towards

the rear of the bird probably indicating a decoy carved by Hank.

Fig. #4 - This photo shows three rows of flight feathers that are more

forward and spread further apart. of the bird probably indicating a decoy

carved by Geof.

Fig. #5 - An example of a pencil signed decoy by hank.
Fig. #6 - An example of a name plate from Newbury, Mass.