Clark Madera Canada Goose

Clark Madara (1883-1953) Pitman, NJ, c. 1910 Born and raised in Petersburg, New Jersey, Madara moved to Pitman, New Jersey where he resided for fifty years. The Ocean County directory lists the carver as a “house painter, gun smith and decoy maker.” Gosner, in his book "Working Decoys of the Jersey Coast and Delaware River Valley" writes that Madara “gunned the Beasley Point area at the mouth of the Tuckahoe River.” This fine decoy is one of less than a half dozen Madara Canada geese known to exist. His geese are rarely found in any condition, and this example, with its exceptional form, detailed bill carving, eye grooves, full cheeks, pronounced breast, flowing long body and raised “fin” tail carving, place it as one of his master works. Displaying a highly detailed and accurate paint pattern, the maker even painted the thighs on the side of the bird. This treatment is also seen on at least two other birds from the same rig. In nice dry original paint with light gunning wear, retains its original beveled edge pad weight.

Provenance: Private Collection, New Jersey Acquired from the above by Leigh Keno

Literature: Kenneth L. Gosner, Working Decoys of the Jersey Coast and Delaware River Valley, Cranbury, NJ, 1985, 69. Henry A. Fleckenstein, Jr., New Jersey Decoys, Exton, PA, 1983.

Provenance

Private Collection, New Jersey Acquired from the above by Leigh Keno