John Williams Magnum Canvasback

John Williams (1858-1937) Cedar Island, VA, c. 1890 18 in. long

“The Folk art of America is forever richer because John Williams lived and carved on Cedar Island.” — William J. Mackey Jr., “American Bird Decoys”

A grand canvasback with the legendary maker's iconic hallmarks, including a high head, humped back, and upswept tail. The underside of this oversized diver is branded "P A CLUB" for the Princess Anne Club.

Although this important Southern maker lived and carved on Cedar Island in Virginia’s Back Bay, his work is inextricably linked to Carolina, as William J. Mackey Jr. makes a point of clarifying on two occasions in his book, “American Bird Decoys,” Mackey states: “Since Back Bay’s and Currituck's physical and ecological unity is obvious, Virginia can well share her claim to this small waterfowl paradise with her sister state of North Carolina. So for our purposes Back Bay and Currituck Sound have a bond that not even a state line can dissolve. Wildfowl fly between the two connecting bodies of water oblivious of man’s jurisdictional problems down below.”

Williams was an early and important stylistic founder of the Back Bay region with makers including W. Baily Barco (1870-1947) following his patterns. Recognizing his importance today, a related swan decoy from the Rockefeller Collection holds the record for any decoy from the region. As found with professional restoration to neck.

Provenance: Princess Anne Club Rig Private Collection

Literature: William J. Mackey Jr., "American Bird Decoys," New York, NY, 1965, pp. 165-172. Kroghie Andresen, "Gunnin' Birds," Charlotte, NC, 2008, p. 35, related examples illustrated and discussed, front dust jacket and pp. 60 and 64-65, related carvings illustrated.

Provenance

Princess Anne Club Rig Private Collection