Thomas Chambers Rare Long-body Canvasback Pair

Thomas Chambers (1860-1948) Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, c. 1915 17 1/4 in. long

A rigmate pair featuring the maker's finest comb painting and elegant carving in his highly desirable long-body form.

Thomas Chambers (1860-1948) was born in Toronto, Ontario. He hunted ducks and geese as a boy and sold his excess quarry to the market. He was tapped by sportsmen, including George Warin (1830-1905), to be the Keeper at the newly founded St. Anne’s Club on the Chenal Ecarte, which flows into Lake St. Clair. In 1900, when the nearby St. Clair Flats Shooting Company was looking for a new Keeper, they asked Warin, a respected founder and a former president of their club. Warin recommended Chambers, which would be fortuitous for all parties.

Incorporated in 1874, the St. Clair Flats Shooting Company, also known as the Canada Club, was one of the oldest hunting clubs on Lake St. Clair. Chambers lived on the club’s property in an adjacent house with his wife and three children. Chambers would remain the club’s Keeper until his retirement in 1943. According to author Bernard Crandell, it was during this time as manager that the 6 foot, 1 inch Chambers earned the nickname “King Tom.” Over the years, the membership of the Canada Club gradually changed from all Canadians to predominantly Americans.

In addition to his work for the club, Chambers was also one of the nation’s most accomplished carvers. His decoys were in high demand from the members and even during the Depression a rig of a dozen Chambers decoys would command the unheard-of price of $75. Very good original paint with light gunning wear, including a few rubs.

Provenance: Spencer Seitz Collection The George Secor Decoy Collection to Benefit Delta Waterfowl

Literature: Bernard W. Crandell, Decoying: St. Clair to the St. Lawrence, Erin, ON, 1988, p. 166, related pair illustrated.

Provenance

Spencer Seitz Collection The George Secor Decoy Collection to Benefit Delta Waterfowl