Ted VandenBossche beside the family barn during World War II

Theodore "Ted" Vandenbossche was renowned as a maker of fine duck decoys and duck boats.
He was also well known for his highly detailed, extremely naturalistic fish decoys.
Attention to detail as illustrated in these photographs,
earned him a substantial following as a carver.

His work was eagerly sought after by even his peers because it also had the
reputation of working better than almost anyone else's.

Ted Vandenbossche / Sucker Decoy
Carved and painted wood, nailhead eyes, Length 9", Circa 1930

Like most of Michigan's Master carvers, Vandenbossche was something of a
rustic Rennaisance man; a carpenter, tool and die maker, a builder of homes,
and as an occupation, was the owner of a fleet of barges and tugboats
engaged in the dredging business.

He was well known in the Lower Michigan area as a market hunter
and sportsman with a keen eye for both fishing and carving.