George Warin Hollow Canada Goose

George Warin (1830-1905) Toronto Island, Ontario, Canada, c. 1880 23 3/4 in. long

The Warins created lightweight, hollow decoys that were perfectly suited to the calm waters of southwestern Ontario. The wet-on-wet blended paint applied to this decoy is among the finest seen on any goose carving.

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

A related example set a new world record at auction for this important Canadian maker in Copley's Sporting Sale 2017. Original paint with even gunning wear, a professional bill replacement, and repair to tail chip.

Provenance: Seregney Collection Herb Wetanson Collection, acquired from the above

Literature: Bernie Gates, "Ontario Decoys II," Kingston, ON, 1986, p. 65, similar decoy illustrated. Gene and Linda Kangas, "Decoys: A North American Survey," Spanish Fork, UT, 1983, p. 211, pl. 38, similar decoy illustrated. 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. Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, pp. 232-233. Loy S. Harrell, Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest," Iola, WI, 2000, pp. 56-57, similar decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Seregney Collection Herb Wetanson Collection, acquired from the above