George Skippy Barto Canada Goose

George "Skippy" Barto (1880-1959) Joliet, IL, c. 1930 19 1/2 in. long

A rare and exceptional Barto with tight feathering across its broad back. "Skippy" Barto was a semi-professional baseball player and steel worker who was forced into early retirement. In his third act, he became a professional decoy maker largely styled after the Ellistons. Excellent original paint with light gunning wear and touch-up to two hairline cracks in neck.

Provenance: Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection

Literature: Stephen O'Brien Jr. and Julie Carlson, "Masterworks of the Illinois River," Boston, MA, 2005, p. 106, exact decoy illustrated.

Exhibited: Salisbury, Maryland, “The Illinois River Meets the Chesapeake,” Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, September 2 - November 13, 2005.

Provenance

Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection