Stark Black Working Decoy with Marvelously Hooked Old Beak Repair Marlis Schratter vase but toward the back are

but toward the back are several pages of repeated sentences

with no splits or notable chips or other issues that I can see

Mid-1950s I believe

5 7/8" tall

Stark Black Working Decoy with Marvelously Hooked Old Beak Repair Marlis Schratter vase but toward the back areThis might not be the decoy for the decoy connoisseur, but for the lover of highly evocative, very singular sculptural objects, I think it is a most fantastic thing! It is very clear, especially from the top of the head, that this working decoy was shot over quite a bit, and I assume its original beak took the worst of the hits. Someone appears to have valued it enough to carve, paint, and attach a new one, transforming its profile and character