Canadian Carver CARON

[Chips Rafferty]

Hi,
I am a new person to this forum and am a Carver from Australia. I have been carving and whittling for a few years, mostly small animals and people.
I recently found 2 carvings in a Junk Shop, which are signed CARON, they are probably Canadian or from the far north of USA.
They appear to be Basswood, although I am not sure we don't have it in Australia. One is about 12 inches high and is of a Fisherman, the other is about 10 inches and is of a Hunter carrying a gun and with snow shoes on his back. They are very well carved.
Can anyone tell me anything about carver CARON possibly Paul Caron from Quebec?
Chips Rafferty

[Soggy]

Hi Chips, and welcome to the forum. I haven't heard of this carver, but perhaps if you private message this forum member he may be able to help you. His name is Gilles and he goes by the user name of gtech . He lives in Quebec and has some intrest and knowlege of older french canadian carvings.
Hope this helps and oh yeah let's see some pictures of your carvings, we're always interested in seeing others efforts.
Soggy

[gtech]

This carver is from St-Jean-Port-Joly in Quebec.

I'm a bit puzzled myself about Paul Caron because there are and were a lot of wood carvers named Caron from that place. It's the most renowned place for wood carving in Quebec for its schools and its carvers. I am myself a Caron and was born only a few kms from there.

Paul Caron carvings are collectable but there is a lot of his carvings available on Ebay.

I can't tell anymore about him because I yet have to find exactly who he is... for now.

There was a P.E. Caron that was very well known, but when he died his children began selling copies they made of his father's carvings which were not signed but just identified Caron, and they had that stamp.



Municipalité de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

Gilles

[vacation212]

Hi and welcome,can"t help with the carvings,sorry.

[gtech]

Thinking again about it, I thought a picture or two, specially of the signature, could help identify it.

You mention Caron for the signature, but where did you find the Paul first name?

Gilles

[Raparee]

The Caron's started a carving school in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, and students of that school sign their work "Caron". I've found that if the 'Caron' is engraved into the wood, it's a student's piece. If it's carved, then it's probably a PE Caron piece. Just my theory, anyhow.

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Chips.

[gtech]

Tim is right about the signature,

and the original P.E. Caron signature looks like in the picture. But I also saw just the name CARON carved, not engraved, on some carvings. That's what bugging me.???

Gilles

[Chips Rafferty]

Thanks all I will try to take some photos, the name certainly appears to be engraved not etched, so may be they are by a student. However, I wish I could carve as well, more practise hey! regards to all. Chips

[gtech]

Well, even when carved by students or another talented wood carver, these pieces are nice to own anyway. Unless someone is a collector, these carvings are worth keeping.

I have a few that I use for inspiration and for my own pleasure, and I don't care what the signature is.

There is a guy here in Quebec who pay wood carvers to carve things but adds HIS signature to them to sell as his owns in his store... So without knowing it, buyers pay for his signature, not for the product...

Gilles