Conservation Portfolio Home

Like this black duck decoy from the Shelburne Museum collection, many decoys have protruding weights, keels, and loops that prevent them from sitting stable on a flat surface. 

Charles “Shang” Wheeler, Black Duck Decoy, unknown date. Cork, wood, paint, glass, metal and leather, 6 3/8 x 7 3/8 x 17 ¾ in. Collection of Shelburne Museum, gift of Mrs. Howard Newton. 1969-77.

A simple mount made from blueboard wrapped with Hollytex remains discreet while offering custom support. Find instructions on how to construct custom mounts using a similar method HERE. The technique can be applied to a variety of objects beyond decoys. 

Charles “Shang” Wheeler, Black Duck Decoy, unknown date. Cork, wood, paint, glass, metal and leather, 6 3/8 x 7 3/8 x 17 ¾ in. Collection of Shelburne Museum, gift of Mrs. Howard Newton. 1969-77.

Shorebird decoys were designed to standup in the sand. A collection of stick-up "tinnies" at Shelburne Museum were missing their original stick mounts. Fabrication of new mounts was guided by this patent drawing found through Google patents.

Ferrules were cut from brass tubes, edges were sanded, and the inside was lined polyethylene suede

A stick-up shorebird before treatment. Without the mount it cannot stand on its own. 

Strater & Sohier, Stick-up Folding Tin Shorebird Decoy, 1874-1900. Tin and paint, 5 3/8 x 2 3/8 x 8 ¼ in. Collection of Shelburne Museum, museum purchase, acquired from Richard H. Moeller, 1956. 1956-707.73.2.

Same stick-up shorebird overall after treatment on new mount. Read about the full treatment here.

Strater & Sohier, Stick-up Folding Tin Shorebird Decoy, 1874-1900. Tin and paint, 5 3/8 x 2 3/8 x 8 ¼ in. Collection of Shelburne Museum, museum purchase, acquired from Richard H. Moeller, 1956. 1956-707.73.2.