Maine Folk Art Primitive Canada Geese Decoys

This vintage pair of Canada geese decoys, a gander and a dame, were hand carved from solid chunks of pine in Maine. Reduced to their most basic forms, the geese have raised heads carved separately and painted black, with an area left natural on each that defines their chin straps (the female's neck is painted as well.) There is no additional painting or decorative carving. The pine was left raw but sanded with no topcoat and, along with their blocky shapes and lack of decoration, contributes to their down-home, folk art appearance.

The gander is the larger of the two, measuring 15 1/4 inches beak to tail, 8 1/2 inches tall to the top of his head and 5 1/2 inches wide across his breast. The dame measures 12 1/4 inches long beak to tail, 7 1/2 inches tall to the top of her head and about 5 inches across her breast. The male weighs about 2 1/4 pounds and the female just under 2 pounds. There is a bit of writing in ink on the bottom of the female.

Both decoys are in excellent condition; the wood has splits and cracks that are inherent in the pine, but there is no damage on either. These vintage decoys make a great display, together or separately.

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