John Stanley Sawler

John Stanley “Stan” Sawler was a hunter, trapper, dory builder and guide on Nova Scotia’s Western Shore. He carved hundreds of eiders, mergansers, whistlers and at least one loon for personal use and for sale. The decoys are generally stream-lined with body profiles rising highest at the slightly curved tail. Sawler attached leather combs to his mergansers, though many of these combs were replaced by wooden or horse hair crests when the originals wore out. While the birds’ paint patterns are not unusual for the area, Sawler did distinguish the patterns on the wings by outlining them with pencil. Perhaps this is a trait he picked up from his father who also carved decoys, though they were not as refined or detailed as those of his son.