A Decoy Corner Article
By Bruce Urben, WWA President
All photos of Einar Torssell Canvasbacks courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles
Some of Wisconsin’s most talented decoy carvers of the past were NOT born in Wisconsin. Many immigrated to the U.S. in the 1800’s to provide a better life for their families. During the late 1800’s, the United States was at the brink of the Industrial Age and jobs were available for talented craftsmen like carpenters, cabinetmakers and home builders.
Craftsmen like Gus Moak (immigrant from Germany – carpenter), Frank Resop (immigrant from Poland – carpenter), Walter Ruppel (immigrant from Russia – blacksmith) and Enoch Reindahl (immigrant from Norway – farmer and carpenter) are just a few that moved to Wisconsin and became classic decoy carvers and avid waterfowlers.
Einar Torssell was another of these immigrant decoy carvers! He was born in 1885 in Sweden and immigrated to the U.S. with his parents, becoming a resident of the Waupaca area in early 1900’s. Einar carried on his father’s profession of carpentry and cabinet making. While living in Waupaca, Einar became an avid waterfowler. The Waupaca area rivers and lakes were filled with waterfowl enjoying the bounty of those waterways. Einar was married in 1916 to his wife Lucy and had one child, Neil, who was born in 1920. Einar became active in local civic organizations in Waupaca, serving as an Alderman and was an active member of the Conservation League, serving as their President for many years.
We know that Einar carved mainly mallard and canvasback decoys. His decoy bodies were made of solid wood with an exaggerated neck shelf where he attached the head. There was very little detail carving on the head and bills of his decoys and he used glass eyes on most of his decoys. Einar used a simple paint scheme to paint his decoys; oil paint was typically used and he did provide some painted feather detail on his wing pockets. His decoys were “well made”, just what you might expect from a cabinet maker!
We do not know the exact number of decoys produced by Einar, but it is expected it to be quite low due to the scarcity of his decoys. Einar moved from Waupaca to Fort Atkinson, WI, in his later years to live near his son. He passed away in Fort Atkinson in 1954 at the age of 69.
Einar Torssell – a talented craftsman that immigrated to Wisconsin, served conservation in Waupaca and produced beautiful working decoys!