John Brooks Three Hollow Ice Or Field Geese

John Brooks (1879-1962) Prince Edward Island, Canada, c. 1920 30 in. long

The well-conceived field decoys by John Brooks captured the imagination of Maritime Canada decoy specialist Gary Guyette, who discusses the maker's work:

“At first he used live geese for decoys but when this was outlawed he turned his hand to making wooden decoys. The bodies of the geese are hollow and seamed through the middle, and the head and neck are carved in one piece using tree branches.”

Guyette continues, “All of Brooks' goose decoys are painted a dark brown the later ones being almost black, and have gray brush strokes for feathering. Brooks carved ice decoys and floaters in upright or feeding positions that all have carved eyes and mouths.”

The two largest birds bear the maker's "JB" brand on their undersides signifying that they were from Brooks' personal gunning rig. As found.

Provenance: Private Collection, Washington State

Literature: Dale and Gary Guyette, "Decoys of Maritime Canada," Exton, PA, 1983, p. 119, related example illustrated.

Provenance

Private Collection, Washington State