Jim Schmiedlin High-head Canada Goose

Jim Schmiedlin (1945-2015) Bradford Woods, PA, 1996 26 in. long

A Pittsburgh native, Jim proudly served in the US Navy from 1965 to 1971. He began carving in his spare time while employed at Pittsburgh Brewing (Iron City Beer), where he worked for forty years. Today, Schmiedlin's work is among the most sought after of any decoy maker who carved in the last 70 years.

Schmiedlin geese are exceedingly rare with only four known to have been carved during his lifetime. Similar to the Harry V. Long Canada goose trio made by Elmer Crowell nearly a century earlier, Schmiedlin geese represent some of the maker’s most coveted and nearly-impossible-to-obtain works.

Of the four that Schmiedlin produced, one is held by the family in Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania. A second example appeared at auction in 2012, setting a world record for any contemporary decoy at that time. This sterling example represents only the second Schmiedlin goose appearance at auction. We have been unable to locate the fourth example at the time of this writing.

The design and lines are grand in concept and execution, with a high turned head reflecting curvature down to the neck muscles and sinew. It was hollowed to lighten the load with even the neck receiving this added treatment in order to reduce rocking on the water. The paint was meticulously applied with the maker's very best blended feathering. The layered wings and carved tail treatment reflect an adept observer of Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), who utilized incising, overlapping wing-tips, and blended paint to impart a sense of realism in the rig. Noteworthy in this example is the intricate bill carving which is expertly rendered. Geese have the ability to bring out the best in carvers—Schmiedlin did not miss this opportunity, producing one of his finest decoys for his own personal gunning rig.

In addition to his "REWARD FOR RETURN" and' "JAS" brands, the underside retains numerous notes on the decoy's gunning history from 1996 to 2008, including a reference to the Thompson Bay photograph. Outstanding original paint with light gunning wear.

Provenance: Jim Schmiedlin Rig Herb Wetanson Collection

Literature: David W. Hodgman, "Jim Schmiedlin: Making the best darn gunning decoys in the land," Decoy Magazine, May/June 1999, pp. 32-35, information on the carver. "Decoy Magazine," March/April 2012, p. 43, related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Jim Schmiedlin Rig Herb Wetanson Collection