George Warin Bluebill Hen

George Warin (1830-1905) Toronto, Ontario, Canada c.1870 14.5" long

A rare and very early decoy with a solid body and yellow painted eyes. The body is tall with the alert head raised and slightly turned off to the left. The muted paint application is brought to life with vermiculation in organized wing patterns on the backside.

In 1874, George became a founding partner of the renowned St. Clair Flats Shooting Company. The underside of the decoy bears several club brands, including that of Arthur H. Buhl, a Shooting Club member from 1914 to 1933, and Franklin H. Walker, a predecessor in the club from 1890 to 1914, who passed the decoy down to him. It is also bears the 'MCC' collection brand and shows traces of other painted initials, now worn with time.

Condition: Very good and original with a couple of shot scars, a dent on the left side, and some few paint rubs with a tight in the making check that runs the length of the body.

Literature: Bernard W. Crandell, "Decoying: St. Clair to St. Lawrence," Erin, Ontario, 1988, p. 129, related decoy illustrated.

Provenance: Blair Ledingham Collection Private Collection Ontario

Provenance

Blair Ledingham Collection