Another Wisconsin Original Decoy Carver
A Decoy Corner Article
By Bruce Urben, President
Joesphe Sieger Bluebill
Joseph Sieger was born in 1871 and lived on his family farm near Tustin, Wisconsin. Tustin is a small rural town located west of Oshkosh on the north shore of Lake Poygan in Waushara, County.
Joe’s parents immigrated from Germany, and Joe lived his entire life on the farm. He became an accomplished woodworker, making exceptional furniture and violins. Because of his woodworking skills, he also crafted some of Wisconsin’s most classic decoys. Joe was an avid waterfowler and hunted Lake Poygan almost exclusively.
Joe was twenty years younger than Gus Moak, but that did not stop them from carving and painting decoys together. Being as they were neighbors, and with Joe’s interest in woodworking, Gus took to mentoring the young Sieger. Considering that Joe was mentored by Gus Moak, many of his decoys resembled Moak’s. However, Sieger’s painting skills were superb and he placed the eyes in his decoys in a traditional, lower location than Moak. Sieger also hollowed all of his decoys and used a flat bottom board attached to the body with screws. All of Moak’s decoys had convex bottoms, with the bottom board nailed to the body.
Joe Sieger Canvasback
Joe also differed from Moak on the attachment of his heads. He drilled down through the head, inserted a single screw through the head and into the body, then patched the hole. While Sieger is known for his exceptional decoys, he is probably best known in Tustin as a fur trapper. It is also known that he made his own gunning boxes, bog skis and shallow draft duck boats. He was a true sportsman, living off the land.
Joe produced a limited number of decoys but is known to have carved mallards, canvasbacks and bluebills. Most of his decoys were for his own use, but he did supply decoys for neighbors and friends. Joe Sieger passed away in 1959 on his farm in Tustin.
Joseph Sieger Canvasback
Because of his limited production, Sieger decoys are in high demand by Wisconsin Collectors. The value of his decoys has increased because of this limited production and can command high prices, some in the $300 to $1,000 range. He is best known for his Canvasback decoys.
Joseph Sieger was a part of the glory years of waterfowling in Wisconsin – an important part of this State’ gunning history.
As always, consult a reputable decoy collector or dealer to determine and confirm carver and providence of any decoy before purchasing.