Gus Wilson Hollow White Wing Scoter

Gus Wilson (1864-1950) South Portland, ME c. 1910 20.5" long

Wilson was born Down East, on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Though he is foremost remembered as a carver, Wilson was also a boatbuilder, waterman, outdoorsman, and a lighthouse keeper. He was an attendant to a number of Maine's light-houses, including the Great Duck Island Light in Frenchboro, Goose Rocks Station on Fox Island, Two Lights Station on Cape Elizabeth, Marshall Point Light at Port Clyde, and Spring Point Light in Casco Bay. Wilson was never limited in carving creativity and though his decoys were used as practical tools it didn't stop him from trying things from time to time. This Scoter is an interesting and possibly one of few experimental decoys by Gus or the immediate user. The broad over-sized body for the species has a deep and rectangular cut out of the underside. It was probably intended as an experiment in a small rig to see if the decoy would suction to the water better. Though it likely didn't factor much into Wilson, or the immediate users logic, considering his numerous large and solid decoys, hollowing it also had a fantastic side benefit of making the decoy lighter. The decoy still retains its original rigging.

Condition: Original with gunning wear with tight crack in neck and roughly 2/3 of the bill is a professional replacement.