@therivermade: Around 1882, near Lake Senachwine on the Illinois River, Robert Elliston started making duck decoys. But Robert only did half the job. His wife Catherine painted them. Robert made lightweight hollow wooden decoys for hunters coming to this famous stretch of Illinois River duck country. Catherine brought them to life. She mixed her own paints and reportedly used freshly killed ducks as models to get the feather patterns right. The Ellistons became closely connected with the Undercliff Hotel, where visiting sportsmen came to hunt Lake Senachwine. Robert died in 1915, but their influence continued. Catherine later taught Millie Graves to paint decoys, passing the Illinois River style to another generation. Today, original Elliston decoys are prized American collectibles. But they weren’t made for a shelf. They were made to float on the Illinois River… and fool real ducks. Robert carved them. Catherine painted them. Together, the Ellistons helped shape the Illinois River decoy tradition beginning around 1882. Their decoys are collectibles today, but back then they were working tools made for duck hunters. #waterfowl #hunting #duck #History #fyp

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