Charles Bergman Exceptional Green-winged Teal

Charles Bergman (1856-1946) Astoria, OR, c. 1925 12 in. long

“Charlie Bergman was a premier decoy carver; the grand old man in the Astoria group. He was a true master, producing hundreds or maybe thousands of extremely well crafted gunning decoys to sell commercially as well as for his own use. Bergman was a giant of a man physically and a legend in his own time with local carvers and waterfowl hunters. He remains a legend to this day. His decoys were the best available among many offered, and of the quality one would expect from a fine boat builder. He had many imitators, as the Astoria “school” of carvers was remarkably consistent in many design characteristics.” — Michael R. Miller and Frederick W. Hanson, "Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast”

One of the best known decoy carvers in the Astoria area, Bergman immigrated to the United States from Scandinavia by jumping ship in San Francisco while he was a first mate on a clipper. He later moved north to Oregon and lived at the mouth of the Columbia River where he is credited for crafting over seventy wooden boats.

His love of waterfowling and well-honed woodworking skills led to Bergman making his own rigs, and around 1929 he became a professional carver. This is among the earliest decoys he made for sale, with the original owners dating it prior to 1930. The rest of this rig was loaned out and never returned, and this single decoy remains in near-mint condition. Fortunately it shows Bergman’s best effort to make a good first impression on potential customers he hoped to attract. The rig was a significant endorsement, having been made for William F. McGregor Jr. The McGregors were a prominent family with a wood products manufacturing business, and an island on the Columbia was named for William McGregor Sr. Indeed, Bill Carter, who sourced this decoy plainly states, “Of the more than 200 Bergmans I’ve owned, this is the best.” The refined hollow form, soft blending, precise feathering, and exceptional condition are unsurpassed. This hen teal is among the absolute finest decoys to emerge from the Pacific Flyway. Excellent original paint with minimal wear. Faint hairline crack and minute ding by neck seam.

Provenance: William McGregor Rig Bill Carter Collection, acquired from the family of the above

Literature: Michael R. Miller and Frederick W. Hanson, "Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Portland, OR, 1989, pp. 77 and 80, related examples illustrated.

Provenance

William McGregor Rig Bill Carter Collection, acquired from the family of the above