Jesse Heisler, Pintail Drake, ca. 1915

Jesse Heisler (1891-1943), Burlington, NJ.

An all original Delaware River decoy with a hollow three-piece rounded body, tack eyes and a high head. The form closely follows the lead of pioneer John English of Florence, NJ, but has an upward curve to the carved primaries. Heisler was a top commercial maker of Delaware decoys and hunting boats, primarily marsh species but also bluebills, canvasbacks and a few geese. Pintails declined from the 1920s as the marches were dredged to facilitate navigation.