George Boyd Gen. Patton Rig Canada Goose

George H. Boyd (1873-1941) Seabrook, NH, c. 1920 26 3/4 in. long

In 1910, future World War II General George S. Patton (1885-1945) married Beatrice Ayer, in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. Together they owned a farm in nearby Hamilton, Massachusetts, where his son (1923-2004) lived and his daughter-in-law still resides. In the summer of 1923, Patton was assigned to the General Staff Corps in Boston. At that time, Patton purchased a rig of goose decoys from George Boyd. A few years later he was transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. His goose decoys were given to his cousin, William Gordon "Gus" Means.

Means was born in Boston in 1884. In 1906, he graduated from Harvard University and joined the ranks of that University's sportsmen and sporting authors. After college, Means settled north of Boston in Beverly, Massachusetts. In 1941, he authored "My Guns" and in 1953 wrote "My Bird Dogs and Hounds." Both were recollections of his earlier sporting exploits.

This fine example bears the "W. G. MEANS" rig brand and exhibits a high-head and a stretched-canvas body. Original paint with gunning wear, slight darkening to canvas, minor touch-up to reset bill.

Provenance: General George S. Patton Rig William G. Means Rig Private Collection

Literature: Jim Cullen, "Finely Carved and Nicely Painted: The Life, Art and Decoys of George H. Boyd, Seabrook, NH, 1873-1941," Rye, NH, 2009, pp. 49 and 50, rigmate illustrated. John and Shirley Delph, "New England Decoys," Exton, PA, 1980, p. 41, similar decoys illustrated. Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Sporting Sale 2013," July 31, 2013, lot 129, rigmate illustrated.

Provenance

General George S. Patton Rig William G. Means Rig Private Collection