George Washington O'Neal (NC, 1869-1949), Swimming Brant

Ocracoke, North Carolina, circa 1910, carved and painted wood.

Length 18 in.

From the Personal Collection of Mr. Kroghie Andresen, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Purchased from Adriene Edwards in 1989.

O'Neal is reputed to have been Ocracoke's most prolific and artistic decoy maker. He crafted decoys professionally for the Gooseville Gun Club, using juniper wood cut from the mainland for most of the bodies. However, many of his decoys were made from old telegraph poles. O'Neal primarily made brant decoys, outnumbering the geese decoys he created.

Old gunning paint, age check on back and chest, working repair to neck.

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