A Decoy Corner Article
By Bruce Urben, WWA President
All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles
Joe Artin Bluebill
Many of our vintage decoy carvers from the early 1900’s have immigrant beginnings – leaving their home country to leave behind political strife and looking for a better life for their families. This carver is another one of those who began his journey in Czechoslovakia and ended up in Oshkosh, WI.
Joe Artin was born in Czechoslovakia in 1903 and his family immigrated to Oshkosh, looking for a better job in the booming lumber industry. By the age of 17, Artin was carving decoys for his use on the Winnebago lakes, including Butte des Mortes and Poygan. Waterfowl was plentiful and was great table fare for the family. He began carving canvasback, mallard, teal and coot decoys as those species were abundant for harvest.
Artin Canvasback
Joe worked for the Paine Lumber Company in Oshkosh until moving to Milwaukee to find a better job. He often returned to his youth home in Oshkosh to hunt his hallowed Winnebago lakes!
Joe began carving all of his decoys by hand using draw knives, spokeshaves, hand knives and files. When he moved to Milwaukee he was able to acquire a duplicating lathe, where he began carving large numbers of decoys. There was a large need for decoys during the market hunting days before 1930.
Artin’s decoys had an un-sanded surface and his paint patterns were considered simple, but very lifelike. The majority of his birds were carved of cedar, with a limited number of balsa bodies. Salvaged balsa was readily available after World War I. Joe acquired a stamp after he moved to Milwaukee and stamped the bottom of his decoys “Artin Decoy Co.”. In the 1930’s and early 1940’s he sold his decoys in local sporting good shops in Oshkosh and Milwaukee.
According to records, Joe’s total output of decoys was over 1200 and he continued to carve into the late 1980’s. His later decoys included teal, wood duck, loons and Canadian Geese.
Artin Bluebill
Joe returned routinely to hunt and fish the Winnebago lakes each fall. History reports that Joe was instrumental in rescuing two duck hunters in Lake Butte des Mortes during the famous Armistice Day storm in November, 1940. Aside from a passionate waterfowler, Joe was also a local hero.
Joe carved decoys right up to the day he died in January of 1990 at the age of 87. As you would expect, Joe’s decoys are highly sought after by Wisconsin collectors. There are still Joe Artin decoys surfacing at flea markets, antique shops, gun shows and local decoy shows. Who knows where that next Artin decoy will be found?
Joe Artin was another Wisconsin original decoy carver, entrepreneur, sportsman and local hero. A classic carver with a local twist.