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* Original Surface: Painted with original surface
* Wood material: Hollow body carved from knot-free white "pattern pine".
* Overall Size: Full length 15.5", by 6.5" in maximum height, by 6.5" base width.
* The Decoy Head: Has embedded glass eyes and a dark green painted beak.
* Its Age: Its early 20th C. circa 1930.
George 'Red' Weir Hollow Decoy
A Note of Interest: This decoy is not singed, and few of George Weir decoys were, but it is recognized as being by early 20th century Hamilton Bay, Ontario decoy carver, George "Red" Weir. Please check your decoy reference books for verification. See "Ontario Decoys" by Bernie Gates.
George “Red” Weir (1884-1978)
George “Red” Weir (1884-1978), 21
years younger than his brother Hugh, made
his first decoys much the same as his sibling,
but with slightly larger than life oversized heads.
George had a long and prolific career as a decoy carver that began in
the 1920s and was thought to have made more
decoys than the total of all the carvers that he was associated with. His style evolved with a larger
oversized decoy by the late 1930s, and the large
cheeky heads had a substantial upturned bill
for both higher visibility and durability. The relief-carved wing
shoulders that lead across the back to his flat
top tail are among his trademarks that are the most recognizable. His bluebills and canvasbacks, rough textured backs with a
rasp to prevent daylight and sun glare, were reportedly the top
preferred decoys for hunters, both far and wide. So if you wanted
to compete for decoy ducks, as far as other carvers were concerned, this was the decoy to
copy. And many carvers did, and a “Weir
school” of decoy making soon followed.
George "Red" Weir passed away in 1978 at the age of 94, and was known to have his hands still busy with carving decoys until the end.
Rare Artifacts Ref No: 6AMX6-S/TAEEX
George 'Red' Weir Hollow Decoy Ca.1930
Updated July 6, 2024 |
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