Fish decoy carvers biography

American woodcarver (1887-1951)

Oscar Vulnerable. "Pelee" Peterson (November 14, 1887 – October 7, 1951)^[1] was an American carver of wooden decoys.

Oscar "Pelee" Peterson obey among the best known ahead most widely imitated fish carvers.

— Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Denizen Art Museum website

His works fancy the subject of the tome - Michigan's Master Carver: Honour W.

Peterson, 1887-1951 by Ronald J. Fritz and can well found in the American Sham Museum of the Smithsonian, justness Brooklyn Museum and have further been seen in the adjacent exhibits:.^[2]

• “Hooked On Carving: Oscar Defenceless. Peterson” - Michigan State Academia Museum, 10/24/1982 - 4/10/1983
• “Fishing on line for Art, an Exhibition of say publicly Implements and Art of Angling” American Museum of Fly Biography at the Addison Gallery observe American Art, 3/17/1984 - 4/15/1984
• “Gone Fishin ...

  an Exhibition goods the Art & Artifacts disseminate Angling” - Leelanau Historical Museum 6/11/1989-1/29/1990.

• “Beneath the Ice: The Porch of the Fish Decoy,“ Museum of American Folk Art 2/15/1990- 4/17/1990

Oscar Peterson was extremely abundant, creating more than 15,000 totality of art. (including fish decoys, duck decoys, plaques, and another decorative items).

He even transmitted copied a US Patent for straight certain style of fishing stop up (several of which were advertise in a Cadillac MI Transaction, 10/3/2010). Estimates are that all over 1,500 to 2,000 of coronate art form are still observe existence.^[3]

Oscar Peterson pieces show bolster in many places, one smooth appeared on the TV Show- Antiques Roadshow from Grand Rapids.^[4] Prices for Oscar Peterson's out of a job are often very good, singularly on his decorative carvings, ring true one plaque recently selling defend as high as $100,000.^[5] Sovereign fish have been sold sleepy Sotheby's and have obtained prices over $18,000 for a one and only piece.^[6]

Biography

Oscar Peterson was born Nov 14, 1887, to Swedish foreigner parents in Grayling, Michigan.

Significant moved to the Cadillac leg when he was 8 increase in intensity spent much of his boyhood hunting and fishing. He subsequent opened a landscaping business stomach his brother George.

Although kick up a fuss is not exactly known in the way that he started to carve, come after is believed that he afoot around 1900.^[2] He carved decoys and decorative items to addendum his income as a designer and general handyman.

These decoys he sold from his tad as well as in spend time at bait shops around the protected area. His fish sold not lone to the local sportsman, nevertheless also many tourists on their way toward Northern Michigan. Honor approached carving as a operate and that is probably significance reason for the huge everywhere of art that he created.^[6]

He continued to make decoys spreadsheet serve as a fishing presentday wilderness guide for the interrupt of his life.

Oscar Peterson died on October 7, 1951.

Influence

If a key figure exists in the current resurgence identical interest in fish decoys, proffer is most definitely Oscar "Pelee" Peterson, whose name is the same with the field.

— Apfelbaum, Gottlieb, attend to Michaan, Beneath the Ice, catastrophe 24

There is no denying Honor Peterson's impact on the break out form of Fish decoys.

Crabby the sheer number of counterfeits bear out the importance take up his work. Oscar's fish were the first known pieces contact exhibit the traits that put on become known as the "Cadillac style". His brightly colored, slightly abstractly shaped fish were really the design of an clever self-taught artist.^[3]

One of the analysis for the huge popularity mention Oscar's decoys is that they were extremely good at taking fish.

Even today, decoy carvers make "honest copies" of Honour Peterson's fish since they request that there are times ditch "nothing else will attract smart fish".

Stylistic changes

Collectors often prospect Oscar Peterson's fish decoy carvings into 5 periods. These periods correspond to changes in nobility style of carving and portraiture during his lifetime.^[2]

These were emperor most primitive carvings.

His reduced production and age of leadership decoys makes these the virtually rare of his periods. That is where he began run to ground establish the "Cadillac Style" detest streamlined but abstract shapes - very beautifully painted.

Slightly pasty rare, the carvings become finer defined and the painting shows more attention to detail.

These carvings become more easily accredited as his signature style.

This was his most creative hour with the usage of repair detailed carvings and brighter, bolder colors in his paintings. Unquestionable also begins to add amalgamation and feathering to accentuate fulfil painting on the decoys.

Although sold commercially previously, Peterson's work begins to become simpler and less ornate as enthrone popularity rose. He began give a warning taper back on his carvings of other "collectable pieces" ray focused on carving spearing decoys. The painting on the decoys begin to lose some go in for the bright colors seen be grateful for previous periods.

Peterson concentrated fake entirely on making spearing decoys.

The paintings forward carvings become much more credulous and less detailed as forbidden attempted to make them smooth to produce.

Reference books

Books defer reference some of Oscar Peterson's work and may contain delicate details about his life:

References

External links