just4decoys.com

In my study of John Graham's different styles of carving, I have speculated as to the dates of his different styles and variations of bill and head carving. I believe that as Graham got older, his "Roman Nose" style carving disappeared. This is only my thoughts and only speculation as I have found no written proof of this. Pictures detailing my study are below. If you have any thoughts or facts to prove or disprove this theory, I would appreciate any input. My email is just2decoys@yahoo.com

John B. Graham Canvasback head carving circa 1838 and 1900:

Circa 1838  

 Circa 1900 

The Study of John Black Graham's decoy carvings has been very interesting to say the least. His carving life spanned from the late 1830s to the first decade of the 1900s. His surviving carvings for the most part show deep wear, gunning repairs, repaints and use. These decoys were carved and used before it was popular to collect.

John Graham and John "Daddy" Holly were the two pioneers of decoy carving, not only in the Upper Chesapeake bay area, but in North America. Graham's decoys became very popular with hunters as they have been found as far away as Ohio and Illinois in old time rigs (not collections, but used rigs) I believe this is because of the migration and awareness of Graham's decoys brought about by the advent of the Civil War (1861 - 1865) Many a boy from all over this great land North and South, traveled through Maryland in the first half of the 1860s.

Grahams Carvings changed as he grew older. The "Roman Nose" style or visible bump on the bill, disappears as time passes. I have researched as to why this happened and have found that there was a certain carving style, possibly because of the tools used at the time, that allowed for this bump, and as time passed and tools evolved, it was easier to carve a bill without this "Roman Nose" look.

 

John Graham was born in 1822 and  I have discussed the theory with a few old time Graham collectors and it is in agreement that Mr. Graham probably started carving as early as the late 1830s.

John Graham was a Cabinet maker and undertaker by trade in Charlestown, Maryland. As was the common practice of the time, he apprenticed with his father for this trade at a very early age. I believe the normal age for starting an apprenticeship was 8 to 10 years old. So it is not uncommon to believe he was carving decoys by age 16.

 

 

 

 

This picture to the right is that of a large body Bull canvasback in very early Madison Mitchell gunning repaint. I have seen three different examples of this decoy style, probably all from the same rig. I estimate this decoy as circa 1850s

 

 

 

 

By 1862 John Graham was 40 years old. During the Civil war he was a Warden, a cabinet maker and undertaker in Charlestown.

 

circa 1860s

Notice the "Roman Nose" bump on both of these decoys where the bill meets the head. This decoy came from Ralph murphy's personal rig and has Murphy paint. It was previously owned by famous collector, Norris Pratt. It has the original iron keel on the bottom.

 

 

As time passed the bump on the nose disappeared and Grahams Carvings evolved and changed. Please notice in the next five pictures the difference in carving styles.

        

This is a John Graham Canvasback Hen estimated to be carved in the early 1870s. Notice the early William Heverin gunning repaint.

 

                                                                  

      

   

                          This wonderful Graham Canvasback is circa: 1880.

 

                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

 

A circa 1890 example                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                         Two wonderful circa 1900 to 1910 examples                                                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Graham has the SENECA brand on the bottom