Decoy

Wood-carved decoy ducks began to disappear in the mid-20th century when plastic decoys appeared on the market. Wood ducks became purely decorative objects. In the 19th century, the province of Québec saw the emergence of several regional styles, as villages near larger lakes often had carvers who specialized in hunting decoys. The Valleyfield and Verdun styles are the most prominent and imitated in Québec. The species most often represented in decoys are goldeneyes and scaups, which are also the most hunted species in the province. The distinctive Québecois feature - which sets it apart from North American production - is the use of raised detailing.