George Warin Canada Goose

George Warin (1830-1905) Toronto, Ontario, Canada, c. 1880 24 in. long

George Warin (1830-1905) and his brother James (1832-1884) first apprenticed to the highly esteemed boatbuilder Robert G. Renardson before taking over his business in 1873. As a testament to their craftsmanship, a Warin-built racing scull won the 1881 and 1882 world championships. George Warin used his exceptional boatbuilding skills to carve decoys which “set a new standard of excellence in the region and were imitated by dozens of later Toronto and southwestern Ontario craftsmen,” according to historian Robert Shaw. The Warins created lightweight, hollow decoys that were perfectly suited to the calm waters of southwestern Ontario.

Warin was also the first president of the St. Clair Flats Shooting Company and his recommendation positioned Thomas Chambers (1860-1948) as the club's keeper.

A fine hollow carving by this accomplished boatbuilder and club founder. The wet-on-wet blended paint applied to this decoy is among the finest seen on any goose carving.

A related example set a new world record at auction for this important Canadian maker in Copley's Sporting Sale 2017.

Stamped "MCC" on the underside. Original paint with gunning wear, including flaking and age lines. Minor repair to very tip of bill and and touch-up to a reset neck.

Provenance: Blair Ledingham Collection

Literature: Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys, Sessions I-II," July 27, 2017, p. 56, lot 7, closely related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Blair Ledingham Collection