Length: 8 inches

A boldly graphic and highly expressive American ice fishing decoy painted in a striking, sculptural surface treatment. The elongated form, sharply forked tail, and angular fins give the piece a dynamic, almost modernist silhouette, while twin iron attachment rings along the spine retain their original oxidation and attest to working use.

The surface is exceptional — a matte black ground richly decorated with thickly applied white daubs and raised gold spotting, creating a rhythmic, tactile pattern evocative of trout markings yet interpreted through a distinctly folk sensibility. The paint appears original throughout, with honest age and surface wear consistent with mid-20th-century use.

Large, bulbous red glass eyes anchor the head, lending the decoy dramatic personality and strong visual presence. At only eight inches in length, the compact scale enhances its sculptural quality, making it as compelling on the wall as it would have been beneath the ice.

A rare example of a working fishing decoy that transcends utility to become a piece of true American vernacular art — bold, graphic, and unapologetically individual.