George Warin Canada Goose

George Warin (1830-1905) Toronto Islands, Ontario, Canada, c. 1880 22 in. long

The Warins created lightweight, hollow decoys that were perfectly suited to the calm waters of southwestern Ontario. George Warin (1830-1905) and his brother James (1832-1884) first apprenticed to the highly esteemed boat-builder Robert G. Renardson before taking over his business in 1873. As a testament to their craftsmanship, a Warin-built racing scull won the 1881 and 1882 world championships. George Warin used his exceptional boat-building skills to carve decoys which “set a new standard of excellence in the region and were imitated by dozens of later Toronto and southwestern Ontario craftsmen,” according to historian Robert Shaw. Warin was also the first president of the St. Clair Flats Shooting Company and his recommendation positioned carver Thomas Chambers (1860-1948) as the club's keeper.

This decoy represents a robust Warin model with full body, head, and neck carving. Like the Chambers goose in this catalog, this hollow Warin has olive green paint sealing the edges of the bottom board. Original paint with even wear, exposing some wood mostly on the back.

Provenance: Alvin Starkman Collection The George Secor Decoy Collection to Benefit Delta Waterfowl

Literature: Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, pp. 232-233, Warin decoys illustrated and discussed.

Provenance

Alvin Starkman Collection The George Secor Decoy Collection to Benefit Delta Waterfowl