George Boyd Turned-head Canada Goose

George Boyd (1873-1941) Seabrook, NH, c. 1920 In 1910 future World War II General George S. Patton (1885-1945) married his wife, 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. A copy of each book is included with the sale of this lot.

This fine example bears Means’ brand. The decoy exhibits tack eyes, a slightly turned head, canvas stretched over a wood frame, and a carved breast and tail. Given its provenance and condition, this is one of the finer Boyd Canada goose decoys to come on the market, as many of Boyd’s goose decoys are found to have canvas tears. Original paint with light gunning wear and even craquelure typical of Boyd's decoys and miniatures.

Provenance: Gen. 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- 50, rigmate illustrated. Robert Shaw, "Call to the Sky: The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, M.D.," Houston, TX, 1992, p. 6, similar decoy illustrated.

Provenance

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