C. William Chrysler Hooded Merganser Pair

C. William Chrysler (1870-1940) Belleville, Ontario, Canada, c. 1900 15 in. long

A stylish pair of hollow hooded mergansers with broad thin crests. From the maker's personal gunning rig, each is stamped "C.W.C." twice on the thin bottom board and stamped "C" under the chin. Stewart notes that the form of Chrysler's "elegantly formed mergansers are a collectors' dream." Original paint with light wear, some early repaint has been successfully removed. The drake has a partial bill replacement, and chip at right base of neck, the hen has an age line in neck.

Provenance: Sam Stuart Collection Peter Brown Collection Private Collection

Literature: Jim Stewart, "The County Decoys," Erin, ON, 2004, p. 134, rigmate pair illustrated. Linda and Gene Kangas, “A Bit Racy: The inspired Diversity of Merganser Decoys,” Decoy Magazine, May/June 2007, p. 24, related example illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 226, related example illustrated.

Provenance

Sam Stuart Collection Peter Brown Collection Private Collection