Canvasback Duck Decoy by Al Thomas

A great looking full size drake Canvasback. Made by Al "Shoebill" Thomas (1873-1953) from Swan Creek near Aberdeen Maryland. Capt. Al ran the gunning scow Lily up on the Susquehanna Flats. It looks to be mostly original paint. The head looks to have a second coat of paint in spots.  A nice old gunning upper bay decoy to add to your collection. 
 
Al “Shoebill” Thomas (1873–1953) was a renowned decoy maker from Swan Creek near Aberdeen, Maryland, best known for his canvasback duck decoys and his role in Chesapeake Bay waterfowling culture.  

Albert Thomas, nicknamed “Shoebill.”  
Swan Creek, near Aberdeen, Maryland — part of the Upper Chesapeake Bay, a historic hub for waterfowl hunting.  
He captained the gunning scow Lily on the Susquehanna Flats, a famous waterfowling area.  
Active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when decoy carving was both a livelihood and an art form.  

Thomas specialized in canvasback duck decoys, though he also carved other bay ducks.  
His decoys were functional hunting tools, designed to attract live birds to hunters’ blinds.  
Collectors today prize them for their authentic paint, bold carving style, and historical connection to Chesapeake Bay traditions.  

- Thomas’s nickname “Shoebill” reflects the colorful culture of Chesapeake Bay gunners, where nicknames carried reputational weight.  
Today, his decoys are considered folk art treasures, bridging the gap between practical hunting gear and collectible Americana.  
Cultural heritage: His decoys embody the Chesapeake Bay’s waterfowling traditions.