Rolf Opjorden was from Minnesota and it is believed that he was from the Bemidji area (Area 4). He carved in the 1950s & 60s and is documented in Kimball’s book “The Fish Decoy” Volume II.
Rolf’s decoys were supposedly painted by Cecil Blank and Rolf only made the bodies. His decoys were called Opjorden/Blank decoys.
I received this information from Rolf’s grandson Bob Pederson (12/31/11) and he help correct a spelling and some other information. He said that Rolf Opjorden is “
a Minnesota carver in Kimball book and on this site named Upjorden is really Opjorden. Rolf opjorden was my grandfather and i saw him make the decoys myself and paint them. I don’t know who C. Blank is? He was from Milan, MN and lived in Mpls, MN. born 04/14/1893 passed 10/20/1979 86yrs . This man was a great Minnesota carver he gave and traded many of his carving along his hunting and fishing trips. He did go to Bemidji, Mn because he was the supt of schools dist#45 that took him through north western Minnesota”
Here is a rare double head fish decoy by Upjordan.
Photos courtesy of Michael Kalogridis
mkalogridis@nycap.rr.com