Hollow Canada Goose, George Warin (1830-1905)

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The Winter Sale 2019

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 16, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-16 10:00:00 2019-02-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2019 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2019-3820
The sale will offer the opportunity to view and take home world-class paintings and fine bird carvings. Featuring selections from the collections of Alfred Ely, L. H. LaMonte, Grant Nelson, Ronald S. Swanson, Herb Wetanson, and a descendant of Chester F. Spear among others. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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• Lot Description
  Hollow Canada Goose
  George Warin (1830-1905)
  Toronto Island, Ontario, Canada, c. 1880
  23 3/4 in. long
  
  The Warins created lightweight, hollow decoys that were perfectly suited to the calm waters of southwestern Ontario. The wet-on-wet blended paint applied to this decoy is among the finest seen on any goose carving.
  
  George Warin (1830-1905) and his brother James (1832-1884) first apprenticed to the highly esteemed boatbuilder 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 boatbuilding 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.
  
  A related example set a new world record at auction for this important Canadian maker in Copley's Sporting Sale 2017. Original paint with even gunning wear, a professional bill replacement, and repair to tail chip.
  
  Provenance: Seregney Collection
  Herb Wetanson Collection, acquired from the above
  
  Literature: Bernie Gates, "Ontario Decoys II," Kingston, ON, 1986, p. 65, similar decoy illustrated. Gene and Linda Kangas, "Decoys: A North American Survey," Spanish Fork, UT, 1983, p. 211, pl. 38, similar decoy illustrated.
  Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys, Sessions I-II," July 27, 2017, p. 56, lot 7, closely related decoy illustrated.
  Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, pp. 232-233. Loy S. Harrell, Jr., "Decoys: North America’s One Hundred Greatest," Iola, WI, 2000, pp. 56-57, similar decoy illustrated.

  Condition

  Condition report requests can be made via email or by telephone (info@copleyart.com or 617.536.0030). Any condition statement given is a courtesy to customers, Copley will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition.
• Shipping Info

  • Shipping info

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