North American Decoys at Auction November 7 & 8, 2018

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Guyette & Deeter, Inc. North American Decoys At Auction November 7 & 8, 2018


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Guyette & Deeter, Inc.

North American Decoys At Auction Talbot County Community Center 10028 Ocean Gateway Easton, Maryland 21601 50 Table Indoor Dealer Show November 6-8, 2018 In conjunction with the Easton Waterfowl Festival

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Preview 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Join us for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 Preview 8:00 AM - 11:45 AM Auction 12:00 PM

Thursday, November 8, 2018 Preview 8:00 AM - 9:45 AM Auction 10:00 AM

For questions during the auction call 410-745-0485

Catalog $45. Out of Country $54 Absentee, Phone & Online Bidding accepted call 410-745-0485 for arrangements For Free Decoy Appraisal Contact: Gary Guyette | gary@guyetteanddeeter.com | 410-745-0485 Jon Deeter | jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com | 440-543-1416


Important Notices: ■ Unofficial prices realized information will be available five business days after the auction. Official prices realized list will be available online approximately two weeks after the auction. ■ If you would like to consign decoys to our next auction, please contact; Gary Guyette 410-745-0485 decoys@guyetteanddeeter.com or Jon Deeter 440-543-1416 jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com. Free appraisals are available with no obligation to consign, and all correspondences are strictly confidential. ■ Under no circumstances will we be responsible for damage to frames or glass, or damages caused by them. Under no circumstances will we be responsible for damage to fragile decoratives. These items are marked in the catalog with an *. ■ Auctioneer James D. Julia, Fairfield, Maine. ■ Stands are not included with the decoys or weathervanes unless specified in catalog. Plexiglass cases are not included with shotgun shell boxes. ■ All duck calls have condition reports, but are sold “As Is”. ■ Dimensions are approximate and are not guaranteed. ■ Trade Up Program - A limited numer of decoys purchased may be paid

for by consigning decoys to the next Guyette & Deeter. auction. Ask Gary or Jon for Details.

■ Pick up hours are 1pm – 5pm beginning Wednesday, November 14, 2018, or by

appointment. Please call ahead so we can have your items ready.

UPCOMING GUYETTE & DEETER, INC. DECOY AUCTIONS April 25 & 26, 2019

Pheasant Run Resort St. Charles, Illinois

In Conjunction with the Midwestern Decoy Collector’s Association Show

July 2019

Sheraton Harborside Hotel Portsmouth, New Hampshire To consign, Contact: Gary Guyette | gary@guyetteanddeeter.com | 410-745-0485 Jon Deeter | jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com | 440-610-1768

We are fortunate to have Robert J. Koenke on staff as our Sporting & Wildlife Art expert. Feel free to contact him for an appraisal or consignment to one of our auctions: 410-7581644, rjkoenke@verizon.net


Guyette & Deeter, Inc.

Dale & Gary Guyette PO Box 1170 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Tel: 410-745-0485 Fax: 410-745-0487 gary@guyetteanddeeter.com

Jon & Leigh Ann Deeter 7980 Darbys Run Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Cell: 440-610-1768 Fax: 440-543-5405 jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com

Zac Cote Weekly Auction Manager Freeport, Maine Tel: 207-321-8091 zcote@guyetteanddeeter.com

Mike Stevenson Graphic Designer & Photography St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410-745-0485 michael@guyetteanddeeter.com

Ed Kenney Merchandise Manager & Shipping St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410-745-0485 shipping@guyetteanddeeter.com

Lynda Brooks Office Manager St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410-745-0485 lynda@guyetteanddeeter.com

Denise Jarrell

Bookkeeper St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410-745-0485 billing@guyetteanddeeter.com


Featuring Decoys From The Collections Of: Bokelman Estate Arnold & Lillian Colodny Jim Deevy Otis Dozier Dr. Lloyd Griffith Charlie Joiner estate

Paul Tudor Jones II Harry Megargee David & Lynn Meyer Bill Staplin Richard Stephenson Doug & Carol Whittington

The Megargee Family The Megargee Collection stems from my family’s love of waterfowling, art, and the life of a progger (“progger” n., esp. Chesapeake Bay, one who forages about marshes and beaches). My grandfather, Henry P. Megargee, Sr., was an engineer, boat builder, and artist who was interested in anything to do with life on and around the water in coastal New Jersey. He instilled that love in his eldest son, my father, Henry, Jr., “Harry.” Both my father and grandfather were accomplished artists and carvers. My father won almost every division of the National Decoy Show in “Working Waterfowl.” He studied various carvers and their styles before arriving at his own idea of decoy perfection. It was only natural that his love of the art form and Jersey decoys would draw him to collect. He was adamant that the Jersey form was the most refined decoy in the country. Decoy collecting was not vogue at the time, and many of his birds were given to him by older friends who were hanging up their boots. There was not a real market for decoys as it exists today. My father’s collection was amassed primarily through trading with his friends. When I was a boy, it was not at all uncommon for us to sit on the tailgate of a station wagon with his friends, Bill Mackey, John Hillman, Somers Headley, Bill Purnell, and Joe French bartering for a rigmate of something that one or the other did not have. Somers Headley once offered me a 20-gauge Browning over-under if I could talk my father into trading him one of two Shourds bufflehead drakes he had. I remember sitting in Mackey’s cellar as a boy and listening to them discussing the intricacies of a certain decoy, debating its origin, whether it had been reheaded, or if it was original paint. These men were the deans of American waterfowl carving and collecting and my father, Harry Megargee, was the dean of New Jersey birds. His collection of exceptional New Jersey carvers and decoys was unrivaled at the time he was living. My mother, Sarah, shared his love of these decoys and continued to stay in collectors’ circles until her passing. Many of these decoys are featured in the various books that have been written and are still on loan to several museums. This exclusive offering of outstanding quality decoys from my family features some of the finest examples of their carvers and forms. Doug Megargee


Dr. Lloyd Griffith In the 1970s, Richard Bourne would say from his auction podium how the doctor who owned half of Virginia just bought another decoy. Lloyd Griffith had a lot of farmland, but it was more like a couple thousand acres. Lloyd was always a presence, bidding against Jim McCleery, Donal O’Brien, and the Wicks, among other top collectors of the day, at the Mackey auctions and throughout the following decades. Our auction company did a lot of business with Lloyd over the years - both buying and selling - and he and I became good friends. Though Lloyd was a serious buyer for over 50 years, his activity spiked in 2000 at the McCleery auction and continued through 2007. He was one of the major forces driving the decoy auction market. Over the years, I made many trips to Lloyd’s home at Albany Farm on the Northern Neck of Virginia, mostly to deliver or pick up decoys. Lloyd loved his farm. His house was on a small island where Nomini Creek joins the Potomac River and connected to the mainland and the rest of the farm by a sand spit. He would give visitors a tour of his property but we spent most of our time at the house, which is where all of the decoys were located. The farm was fairly isolated, and the closest town was tiny Mount Holly, where “Dr. Lloyd” was a major fixture, having operated the Griffith Clinic for 52 years, as had his father before him. The nearest hospital was a long way from town. On one of my trips to Albany Farm, about 15 years ago, Lloyd asked if I ever had “crab on crab.” Insisting I had to try this local delicacy, we drove to The Driftwood at Cole’s Point on a Friday evening for dinner, ordering the specialty and a bottle of Chardonnay. The place was packed with locals who throughout our dinner approached the table to pay their respects to “Dr. Lloyd.” Some would just quietly say hello, shake his hand and wish him well. Others would introduce themselves and remind him that “you saved my brother’s life back in 1990” or “thanks to you my mother didn’t lose her leg.” He introduced me to everyone as “Gary Guyette, my friend from Maine.” Most of the decoy collecting community will remember Lloyd bidding at countless auctions over the years. I’ll remember “Dr. Lloyd” beaming as he spoke with his people at The Driftwood. Gary Guyette

Dick Stephenson A truly good guy. The decoy community lost one of the truly good guys of our hobby when Richard S. Stephenson passed away on April 19, 2018. I first met Dick in the early 1990s at his restaurant, the Skilligalee in Richmond. From that first encounter, I knew immediately that I was going to like this fellow and, subsequently, we became friends. Dick, along with his wife Jeanne, was a regular attendee and participant in our auctions. He was particularly fond of Ward brothers decoys, and through the years was able to assemble some very good examples of their work. While that was his primary collecting focus, he had a keen appreciation for decoys from other regions and, ultimately, was able to build an eclectic collection. I rarely saw Dick without a smile on his face. While he hadn’t been active recently, his interest and love of old decoys never waned. For those of us fortunate enough to have known him, he will be sadly missed. Frank Schmidt


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Guyette & Deeter Online Auctions

We e k ly O nline Au c t ions End ing E ve r y T hu r sd ay N ig ht G u a r a nt eed co n d i t i o n re p o r t s , m ul t i p l e p hot os , q u i ck s h i p p i n g , g reat d eal s o n q ual i t y i t e m s Sold $1,495 Mason Factory

Sold $1,437 Ken Harris

Sold $2,156 Mark McNair

For questions, contact: 207-321-8091

Sold $2,242 Charles Birch

zcote@guyetteanddeeter.com

PO Box 159, Freeport, Maine 04032 www.decoysforsale.com

Recent Sales


Session One

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 12:00 PM Lots 1 - 274

Miniatures by Elmer Crowell 1 - 8 Contemporary 9 - 15 16 - 23 Ward Brothers 24 - 33 New Jersey 34 - 39 Jim Schmiedlin 40 - 49 New Jersey Shorebirds Ontario 50 - 56 57 - 62 New York State 63 - 69 Fish Mason Decoy Factory 70 - 93 94 - 102 Virginia Louisiana 103 - 119 Contemporary 120 - 128 Maryland 129 - 141 Sporting Art 142 - 155 Ward Brothers 156 - 164 Miniatures by Elmer Crowell 165 - 187 Decoratives by Elmer Crowell 187A - 187D North Carolina 188 - 195 Virginia 196 - 206 Sporting Art 207 - 223 Maryland 224 - 233 Shorebirds 234 - 253 Hurley Conklin 254 -274

Session Two

Thursday, November 8, 2018 10:00 AM Lots 275 - 601

Decoratives 275 - 286 Miniatures 287 - 307 New England 308 - 314 Maryland 315 - 327 Shorebirds 328 - 340 New England 341 - 354 Virginia 355 - 362 Decoratives 363 - 379 Shorebirds 380 - 395 Ward Brothers 396 - 412 Delaware River 413 - 422 New Jersey 423 - 446 Midwest 447 - 454 Maryland 455 - 470 Contemporary 471 - 475 Miscellaneous Decoys 476 - 483 Items of Interest 484 - 500 Bronze Sculptures 500A - 500D Factory 500E - 506 Pacific Coast 507 - 515 Miniatures 516 - 519 Decorative & Contemporary 520 - 586 Delbert “Cigar� Daisey 587 - 592 Miscellaneous Decoys 593 - 601

Please read conditions of sale in the back of catalog


SESSION ONE

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 - 12:00 pm

Miniature Songbirds by Elmer Crowell 1862 - 1952 East Harwich, Massachusetts

Elmer Crowell in his workshop

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Miniature kingbird, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Approximately 2.75” long. Very good and original.

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Miniature red headed woodpecker, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Approximately 2.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

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(900 - 1,200)

(900 - 1,200)


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Miniature blue cat bird with dropped wings, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Approximately 3.25” long. Very good and original. Provenance: Staplin collection. (900 - 1,200) 4.

Miniature downy woodpecker, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Approximately 2.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

5.

Miniature red wing blackbird, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Approximately 3” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

6.

Miniature red faced warbler, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Traces of Crowell’s circular ink stamp on underside. Approximately 2.25” long. small paint scuff missing from tip of bill; otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(800 - 1,200)

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Miniature cedar waxwing, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Approximately 2.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

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Miniature Kentucky warbler, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Approximately 2.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(900 - 1,200)

(900 - 1,200)

(900 - 1,200)

(900 - 1,200) 9


Contemporary Carvings

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Large pair of sickle billed curlew, William Gibian, Onancock, Virginia. Signed. Relief wing carving with raised wingtips. 23” x 4.5” x 4.5” and 13” x 4.5” x 9”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

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Spotted sandpiper, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Relief wing carving. 7.5” x 2.5” x 3.5” Original paint that has been artificially aged; structurally good. (650 - 950)

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Hollow carved ruddy turnstone, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Signed. Carved primaries. Removable dovetailed head. 8.75” x 2” x 4.5”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

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12. Hollow carved yellowlegs, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. With removable dove tailed head. Signed. Head is turned to one side. Relief wing carving with carved primaries. 12.25” x 2.5” x 6” Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 13.

Feeding dowitcher, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Carved in the Verity style. 9.5” x 2.5” 3.5”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)


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Pair of greenwing teal, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Signed. Hen is in preening pose with raised wingtips. 12” x 4” x 5”. Very good and original. (3,500 - 4,500)

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Wood duck drake, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Signed and dated 1988. Very slightly turned head. 13” x 4.5” x 6”. Excellent and original. (1,750 - 2,250)

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Ward Brothers Crisfield, maryland

The White Mallard Club name has become synonymous with a rig of pintails and mallards used at this elite duck shooting club located in Northern California’s Butte Sink Valley. Identified by the horseshoe shaped weights nailed to the rear of each decoy, or the nail pattern of a missing weight, it is thought that these decoys made their way to the club via either Abercrombie & Fitch or Roos-Atkins sporting goods store in San Francisco, for Errol MacBoyle who became a member of the White Mallard Club around 1936. MacBoyle lived in San Francisco and owned the IdahoMaryland Mining Company in Nevada County. Most of the pintails and mallards are in the 1936 model, but there were also a few pinch breast pintails from the 1920s.

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Pair of 1936 model pintails, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. From the White Mallard club, near Colusa, California. 16” x 6.5” x 7.25”. Original paint with good detail and minor wear; hen has a professional repair to a small crack in the neck; has been lightly hit by shot, and has several small spots of touchup on sides of head; drake has two hairline cracks in the breast. (20,000 - 30,000)

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17. 1932 model pinch breast bluebill drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 15.25” x 7” x 6.75”. Repainted at a later date by the Ward Brothers; slight separation at neck seam.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Roy Bull. Bull collection brand on underside. (2,000 - 3,000)

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Pinch breast bluebill drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1930. Turned head with wide bill. 14.5” x 6.5” x 6.5”. Old in use repaint with some original showing on back; thin crack down center of back; roughness to top of head.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Sam Dyke. Dyke collection stamp on underside. (1,500 - 2,500)

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Mallard hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 model with balsa body slightly turned cedar head and inserted cedar tail. 17.5” x 8” x 6.5” Original paint with minor wear; thin separation on underside at a bottom seam. (1,500 - 2,500)

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20. Pinch breast pintail drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. 15” x 7” x 7.5” Old in use repaint; shallow chip missing from underside of bill; crack in one side with some filler added to it. (1,250 - 1,750)

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Like Abercrombie & Fitch, Von Lengerke & Antoine products were from the finest manufacturers, and appealed to an upscale clientele. The VL & A Chicago Company lost favor in the public eye after the St. Valentines Day massacre when machine guns used by Al Capone’s gang were found to have been purchased there. In 1938, it was bought out by Abercrombie & Fitch, who continued to operate under the VL & A name until the closing of the store in the early 1960s.

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21 Detail

21 Detail

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Unused 1936 mallard drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. “VL&A Sporting Goods Store” stamp on the underside. Slightly turned head. 17.5” x 7.5” x 6.75”. Several small paint flakes missing; otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Found in a home in Washington state, along with a similar mallard and bluebill hen sold in our July 2018 auction. (10,000 - 14,000) 15


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1936 model bluebill drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. 17.5” x 7.5” x 6.75”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; shallow chip missing from one side of bill; thin crack in neck. (5,000 - 8,000)


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23. Bluebill hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1936 model with slightly turned head and Ward ink stamp on underside. 15” x 7” x 6.5”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; slight roughness to edges of the end of the bill; shallow worn area in the wood on one edge of the underside. (6,500 - 9,500)

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New Jersey 24. Bluebill drake, Nathan Rowley Horner, West Creek, New Jersey. 14” x 5” x 6”. Original paint; staining and discoloration on back; crack through one side of head and in neck; slight seam separation; a few small scratches. Provenance: Megargee collection. (2,500 - 3,500)

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Rigmate pair of goldeneye, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa 1900. 14” x 5.5” x 7”. Original paint; separation at body line; drake’s head is separated slightly from body; small areas of discoloration and rubs; a few small shot scars; small paint spill on back of drake; hen has wood imperfections and a few small dents on one side.

Provenance: Megargee collection. Acquired from E. Dilwyn Parrish, 1956. (3,000 - 4,000)

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Goldeneye hen, Harry M. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. 13.5” x 5.5” x 6.25” Original paint with moderate wear and good patina; hairline crack in tail; thin chip at tip of tail; two small shot marks at one side. (2,000 - 3,000)

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Rare redhead drake, Lloyd Parker, Parkertown, New Jersey, circa 1900. 15” x 5” x 6”. Strong original paint; head appears to have been broken off and reset; crack with missing piece of wood in back; a few small areas of discoloration; nail in underside of bill possibly just there for strengthening.

Provenance: Megargee collection.

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Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 144, exact decoy pictured. (2,000 - 2,500)


Rhodes Truex

1860 - 1934 Absecon, New Jersey

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In the 1920s, Truex was selling his decoys for $20 per dozen. His job as a bridge tender allowed time for him to fine tune his carvings while on the job as well as keep an eye on the migrating flocks. The eyes of his decoys were created by impressing a spent rifle shell into the sides of the head.

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Rare Canada goose, Rhodes Truex, Absecon, New Jersey, circa 1920s. Stamped in the underside is “Earl Leads, Pleasantville, New Jersey”. 24” x 8.5” x 11”. Original paint with good feather detail; minor discoloration and wear on lower half of body; thin “in the making” crack in neck; several tiny dents. Provenance: Meyer collection.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 121, exact decoy pictured. (8,000 - 12,000) 19


Harry V. Shourds

1861 - 1920 Tuckerton, New Jersey

Harry V. Shourds

H.V. Shourds, a house painter by trade and a part time guide, earned his livelihood by producing some of the finest decoys made in New Jersey. Considered to be the most prolific carver from the Tuckerton school, Shourds produced Canada geese, brant, ducks, shorebirds, seagulls, and even a blue heron. Any collector of Shourds decoys will quickly learn, however, that examples in original paint are considered rare. His decoys were sold to hard hunting baymen that used them to harvest waterfowl in salt water.

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Rigmate pair of bluebills, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa 1900. 14” x 5.5” x 6.5”. Both are in strong original paint; drake’s paint has mellowed on back; a few small rubs; areas of flaking; hen has small area of paint loss on back of head and one spot on body; numerous scratches on underside.

Provenance: Megargee collection.

(5,000 - 7,000)

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Rare bufflehead drake, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Painted eyes. 12” x 5” x 6.5”. Good original paint; slight seam separation at body; head was probably broken off at one point and resecured with two nails; deep scratch at top of back; underside appears to have been hit by a propeller lightly; nails securing underside of body has pushed through and putty has separated slightly; a few small rubs.

Provenance: Megargee collection. Acquired from E. Dilwyn Parrish, 1956. (8,000 - 12,000)


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Rare bufflehead hen, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. 11.5” x 5” x 6”. Original paint with minor wear; small flaked area on one side; white on cheeks and white area below body seam have had a coat of white paint removed by Russ Allen.

Provenance: Megargee collection. (8,000 - 12,000)

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Merganser drake, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 16” x 5” x 6”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; crack partway through neck.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Joseph French, Marathon, Florida. French ink stamp and small brand in underside. (5,000 - 8,000)

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32 Detail

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Merganser hen, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa 1900. His earlier style with painted eyes and dropped tail. 16.5” x 5.5” x 6”. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy, moderate wear on tail; minor discoloration on breast.

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, Jr. “New Jersey Decoys, Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (8,000 - 12,000)

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Jim Schmiedlin

1945 - 2015 Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania 34. Old squaw drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded “JAS” and dated 2002 with “Return for reward” on underside. Head is slightly turned. Detailed feather carving on extended wingtips. Excellent paint detail. 17.5” long. Near mint. (5,000 - 7,000)

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35. Scoter, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Dated 10/86. Slightly turned head. Relief carved wingtips and fluted tail. 17.5” x 9.5” x 7”. Very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000)

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36. Goldeneye drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Slightly turned head. Wingtip carving. 16.5” x 8” x 9”. Near mint original paint; area on one side has raised slightly; it appears that it is a split that was filled when the decoy was made. (2,500 - 3,500)

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Greenwing teal drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed, with hunting information. Slightly turned head. 14” x 5.5” x 5.5”. Carved crossed wingtips. Original paint with slight wear; structurally good. (3,000 - 4,000)

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Hollow decorative bluewing teal drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Swimming position with slightly turned head. Stamped “JAS” on underside, signed by maker, and dated 1983. 14” x 5.5” x 5”. Excellent and original. (2,500 - 3,500)

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39. Decorative widgeon drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Hollow carved. Stamped “JAS” on underside and signed by maker. Dated 1984. Head is slightly turned. 17” x 7” x 6.5”. Excellent and original. (2,500 - 3,500)

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New Jersey Shorebirds

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Exceptional robin snipe in spring plumage, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Fine paint pattern and patina. Good, round body style. 8.5” x 2” x 4.5”. Original paint with slight wear; mostly on edge of tail; very slight roughness at edges of stick hole.

Provenance: From an estate in South Carolina.

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, Jr. (12,000 - 16,000)

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John McAnney

1870 - 1930 New Gretna, New Jersey McAnny was a bayman who took gunning and fishing parties out on the Bass and Mullica Rivers near New Gretna. He was also a member of the North Brigantine Life Saving Station

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Rare ruddy turnstone, John McAnney, New Gretna, New Jersey, circa 1900. A simple, yet elegant decoy in alert pose. 9.5” x 2” x 4.25”. Dry original paint with good patina and only slight wear.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of John Hillman, Hillman collection stamp on underside. Two tiny staples used by Hillman for his identification tags.

Literature: Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. decoy auction catalog, April 1996. “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (6,500 - 9,500)

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Early ruddy turnstone from Cape May, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Iron bill. 9.5” x 3” x 4”. Original paint with very minor wear; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Meyer collection. (2,000 - 3,000)

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43. Running curlew from Cape May, New Jersey. Iron bill. 15.5” x 3.5” x 6”. Original paint with minor wear; thin crack in one side.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Jack Conover. Conover ink stamp on underside. (2,500 - 3,500)

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44. Ruddy turnstone, Harry Boice, Absecon, New Jersey, circa 1900. Bill splined through back of head. Typical Boice paint pattern. 9.5” x 2.25” x 5”. Paint on belly appears to be a second working coat, otherwise original paint.

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Provenance: Megargee collection. (1,800 - 2,200)


45. Rare lesser yellowlegs, Daniel Lake Leeds, Pleasantville, New Jersey. Boldly carved shoulder with split and raised wingtips and slightly dropped tail. Painted eyes. Bill is splined through back of head. Well executed and very meticulous paint pattern. 8” x 2.5” x 4”. Slight discoloration under tail and one side of wingtip; small area of paint loss on bill. Provenance: Megargee collection.

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Peep or sanderling, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa 1900. 8” x 1.75” x 4”. Original paint with minor wear; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: From an estate in South Carolina. (4,000 - 6,000)

(8,000 - 10,000)

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Taylor Johnson

1863 - 1929 Point Pleasant, New Jersey

Taylor Johnson is third from left in back row.

Owners and workers at Johnson Brothers Boat Works, Point Pleasant.

Taylor Johnson was born in Point Pleasant where he married Maria Parker in 1877. The couple had a total of six children. At various times in his life, he earned a living as bayman, occasional market hunter, carpenter, and boat builder. He passed on his boat building skills to his sons who established Johnson Brothers Boat Works on the waterfront. Taylor produced decoys commercially and was the most prolific and talented of the carvers in the region. He is often credited with establishing the “Head of the Bay” design of decoys. Reference: (1)

Clayton, John. 2016. “Taylor Johnson – Commercial decoy maker established the ‘Head of the Bay’

design.” Decoy Magazine, March/April 2016.

47.

Yellowlegs, Taylor Johnson, Point Pleasant, New Jersey, circa 1900. 9.25” x 2” x 4”. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of William J. Mackey, Mackey collection stamp on underside. Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (8,000 - 12,000)

47 Detail

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48.

Rare dowitcher, Taylor Johnson, Point Pleasant, New Jersey, circa 1900. 10.5” long. Original paint with very minor wear; lightly hit by shot; thin reglued crack in neck. (8,000 - 12,000)

48 Detail

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48

49

49. Rare curlew, Taylor Johnson, Point Pleasant, New Jersey, circa 1900. Very hard to find with original intact bill. 14” x 3” x 5.5” Original paint with minor wear; small hole under the tip of the tail where a screw eye was once attached; small dent in one side. (8,000 - 12,000)

49 Detail

33


Phineas Reeves

1833 - 1896 Long Point, Ontario For over 150 years, Long Point and The Long Point Company, established in 1866, have stirred the emotions of waterfowlers. The Long Point Company members, North America’s industrial and business nobility, hosted royalty, entertainers, sportsmen, and America’s premier sporting artists including Louis Aggasiz Fuertes, Frank W. Benson, and Ogden M. Pleissner. The company inspired the development of other conservation oriented, elite waterfowling clubs in Canada. The Reeves family decoy makers – Phineas, John, Frank, Charles, and Jack – were waterfowl guides, boat builders, marsh managers, trappers, and commercial fishermen. This family of baymen always comes to mind with any mention of historical Canadian waterfowl collectibles. Phineas Reeves’ decoys exhibit elegant flowing lines, are hollow, and are painted with the finest artist oils applied skillfully with flowing brush strokes. Phineas’ decoys from the 1880s, branded with the members names from the company, combined with age, history, and style are considered some of Canada’s best.

50 Detail

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50

50.

Very rare hollow carved Canada goose, Phineas Reeves, Long Point, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Branded “GBH” in one side for George B. Harris, Long Point Company member 1877-1896. 23” x 10” x 12”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents; small chip missing from the neck filler.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Bernard Crandell. Literature: “Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates, p. 192, exact decoy pictured. “Decoys - North America’s One Hundred Greatest,” Loy Harrell. (25,000 - 35,000)

35


Tom Chambers 1860 - 1948 Toronto, Ontario

Thomas Chambers, club manager of the St. Clair Flats SHooting Company, after a day of shooting with members. Courtesy Ken Cole.

51 Detail

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52 Detail


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52

51.

Hollow long body style canvasback hen, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario. “J.T. McMillan” brand in underside for Saint Clair Flats Shooting Company member James T. McMillan. 17” x 7” x 7”. Original paint with minor crazing and string marks; structurally good.

Literature: “Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates. “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid. (6,000 - 9,000)

52.

Short body style canvasback drake, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario. Hollow carved with comb paint detail. 15” x 6.5” x 7”. Original paint with very slight wear; three shot holes in one side.

Literature: “Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates. “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid. (4,000 - 6,000)

37


52A. Exceptional rigmate pair of redheads from the Toronto area, last quarter 19th century. Hollow carved with raised neck seats. Drake has slightly lifted head. Both are branded “Meredith” and “HNT” for Howard G. Meredith 1894-1935 and Harry M. Torrey 1935-1946. Both have serrated carving at edges of bills. Hen 13.5” long, drake 14.5”. Original paint with very minor wear; a few tiny dents; very small shallow chip at one side of top of drakes tail. (10,000 - 14,000)

52A

John S. Meredith - Big Point Club - Ontario 1909. “Great Lakes Decoy Interpretations,” Gene and Linda Kangas 38


52A Detail

52A Detail

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52B

52B. Very stylish semi high head blackduck, William Chrysler, Belleville, Ontario, circa 1900. Hollow carved with good scratch feather paint detail. 17.75” long. Original paint; minor wear; several tiny dents.

52B Detail

40

Literature: “Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates. “Traditions in Wood,” Patsy Fleming, editor. (4,000 - 6,000)


52C

52C. Rare low head style hollow carved mallard hen, very similar to the work of George Warin, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Fine subtle paint detail. 14.5” long. Original paint; minor wear; several tiny dents and shotmarks.

“Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates. “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid. (6,500 - 9,500)

52C Detail

41


53.

Pair of mallards, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario. Each is 16” x 7” x 6”. Original paint with minor wear; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Consignor’s notes indicate the decoys were purchased from Burt Preston. (1,400 - 1,800)

53

54.

Pair of mallards, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario, 1st half 20th century. Each 17” x 7” x 6”. Near mint original paint; hen has shot scars on one side; drake has light wear on side pockets. (2,500 - 3,500)

54

55. Hollow carved redhead drake, Tom Chambers, Long Point, Ontario. 15” x 6.5” x 7”. Original paint with minor wear; several tiny dents; some sort of glue has been dripped on one side of neck. (1,200 - 1,500)

55

56.

Hollow carved black duck, Charles Duesbury, Belleville, Ontario. Fine feather paint detail. 17.5” x 7” x 6”. Original paint with very slight wear; structurally good.

Literature: “Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates. (2,000 - 3,000)

56

42


New York State

57 Detail

57. Rare redhead drake, Harvey Stevens, Weedsport, New York, last quarter 19th century. Rare paddle tail style. 15” x 6” x 6”. Original paint with minor flaking and wear; short hairline crack in back; several small shot scars.

Literature: “Stevens Decoys,” Shane Newell. “Stevens Brothers,” Peter and Peggy Mueller. (9,000 - 12,000)

57

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58

59

60

61

58. Oversize canvasback drake, Chauncey Wheeler, Alexandria Bay, New York. Balsa body two piece with cedar head. Good comb paint detail on back and sides. 18.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; slight separation at body seam; several small dents. (1,500 - 2,000)

60.

Pair of mergansers from Long Island, New York, circa 1950s. Relief wing carving. “Bud Ward” is written on underside of both. Both are 16.5” x 6” x 6.5”. Original paint with minor wear and discoloration; structurally good. (400 - 600)

59.

61.

Pair of cork body geese, Thomas Gelston, Quogue, Long Island, New York. Cork pieces comprising body are pinned together with square pegs. Both are 22” x 9” x 11”. Old in use repaint; chip missing from underside of bill on one; wear to tail on other. (500 - 800)

44

Hollow carved black duck from Long Island, New York. Body halves are joined by both nails and dowels. Scratch feather paint detail. 15” x 6.5” x 7”. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; several tiny dents; crack at one side of neck base; line where head joins neck is a seam, not a crack. (1,750 - 2,250)


62.

Hollow carved bluebill drake from Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Exceptional form with long tail, carved eyes, and alert head pose. 14” x 5.5” x 8”. Original paint with good patina and very slight wear; short hairline crack behind neck on back; thin crack through neck. (6,500 - 8,500)

62 Detail

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45


Fish

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68

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63.

Rare land locked salmon fish plaque, Lawrence Irvine, Winthrop, Maine. Fish measures 22” long. Plaque is 29” x 12”. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

64. Well fed brook trout carving, Lawrence Irvine, Winthrop, Maine. Fish measures 14” in length. Plaque is 10” x 25” and painted to resemble birch bark. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 65.

46

Jumping brook trout on State of Maine plaque, Lawrence Irvine, Winthrop, Maine. Fish is approximately 12” long. Very good and original. (900 - 1,200)

66. Three fish decoys, Leroy Howell, Hinckley, Minnesota. All have carved and painted eyes, curved tails, and metal fins. Lengths vary from 9” to 4 1/2”. Very good and original. (500 - 800) 67. Pike plaque, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Carved in the style of Oscar Peterson. Glass eye. Aged to look old. Appealing multicolor backboard. Measures 10.75” x 27” x 2”. (400 - 600) 68.

Musky fish plaque, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Carved in the style of Oscar Peterson. Multicolored backboard, well executed fish, glass eyes. Measures 9.5” x 24.5” x 2”. (400 - 600)


Oscar Peterson 1894 - 1915 Cadillac, Michigan

69

69 Detail

69.

Relief carved sunfish plaque, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. 8” x 11.5”. Good carving detail with glass eyes. Plaque is reinforced with nailed on thin tin strap on edges. Fair amount of flaking where tin covered sides and underside, otherwise excellent and original.

Literature: “Peterson Michigan Master Carver,” Ron Fritz, p. 80, exact plaque. (7,000 - 9,000)

47


Mason Decoy Factory 1896 - 1924 Detroit, Michigan

70

70 Detail

70.

Greenwing teal hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Branded “Manning”. Retains Mason weight. 12” x 4.5” x 6”. Original paint with good patina and minor wear; a few small dents; one shot hole in side of head; several string marks on back near tail.

Literature: “Mason Factory Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid. (6,500 - 9,500)

48


71.

Extremely rare hollow carved pair of pintails, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade. Both are 17” x 5” x 6.5”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small rough area to tip of drake’s bill; both have been very lightly hit by shot.

Literature: “Mason Factory Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid. (12,500 - 17,500)

71

71 Detail

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72.

Rare mallard hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. In the special order style of DB Day rig. Branded “ELP” in underside. 17” x 6” x 7”. Strong original paint; tiny professional restoration at tip of tail and end of bill; small area of inpainting at neck seam; a few shot marks. (2,500 - 3,500)

72

73. Black duck, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1910. 18” x 6.5” x 7”. Strong original paint with visible feathering; very tight crack near one eye; some neck filler missing at seam; light coat of varnish. (2,000 - 3,000)

73

74.

74

75. Pair of mallards, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade. Both 16” x 5.5” x 7”. Original paint; minor wear; drake has touchup at neck filler; hen appears to have had neck filler replaced and has been touched up; small tail chip repair on hen; slight roughness to one edge of hen’s bill; both have several small dents. (1,750 - 2,250)

50

75

Rare rigmate pair of bluewing teal, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Paint eye model. Both are 12” x 4” x 5”. Both in strong original paint; small areas of neck filler missing; hen has rough area around bill, possible dog chew; drake has worn area at edge of bill. (1,800 - 2,200)


76.

Rare rigmate pair of redheads, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade. Both 13” x 5.5” x 7”. Original paint with minor wear; filled crack in one side of hen; thin filled crack in side of hen’s head; some touchup at hen’s neck filler; drake has touchup at most of the neck filler and two cracks in the underside.

Literature: “Mason Factory Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid

(4,000 - 6,000)

76

77.

Rigmate pair of mallards, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1st quarter 20th century. Both branded “FDB” in underside. 18” x 6.5” x 7”. Original paint; both have small restoration at tail chip; a few small flakes and dents on drake; wear at top of head; hen has flakes missing on area of back and along one side of bottom. (3,000 - 4,000)

77 51


78. Rare hollow carved brant, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit Michigan. Challenge grade. 20” x 7.5” x 9”. Original paint on most of the decoy; white area under the tail has early working repaint; lightly hit by shot otherwise structurally good.

Provenance: McCarthy collection. (1,500 - 2,500)

78 79. Early mallard hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. 16.5” x 5.5” x 7”. Original paint with minor wear; small rough spot on lower side where a knot is; professional tail chip repair; a few small dents and shot marks. (1,500 - 2,000)

79

80. Canvasback hen and drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade Seneca Lake models. 15” x 6” x 8”. Hen has had the paint restored by Paul Fortin and has thin crack in underside; drake has original paint with minor discoloration and wear on white and gray areas; black has old repaint; a few tiny dents; crack in the underside. (1,250 - 1,750)

80 81. Bluewing teal drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade with rare snakey head style. 12” x 4.25” x 6”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; touchup on body at neck base; a few small dents. (1,250 - 1,750)

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82.

Rigmate pair of mallards, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade with early snakey head style. 17” x 5.5” x 7”. Original paint with moderate wear; the underside of each bird has been repainted and extends a very short way up lower sides; white ring around neck on drake has been repainted also tail chip repair; small chip missing from hen’s tail.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(1,250 - 1,750)

83. Black duck, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade. 16.5” x 5.5” x 7” Strong original paint with good feather paint detail; small amount of professional touchup at neck seam; small defect in wood at tip of tail from when the decoy was made. (1,000 - 1,400) 84. Bluebill drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. 15” x 6” x 7”. Original paint with minor wear; hit by shot; small worn spot on one side; crack in underside. (950 - 1,250) 85.

Bluewing teal drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Standard grade with glass eyes. 11.5” x 4” x 6”. Original paint with minor wear; crack in one side; small dents; small amount of neck filler missing. (800 - 1,200)

86.

Greenwing teal drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. 12” x 4” x 6”. Original paint with minor wear; neck filler has been professionally replaced and touched up; several small spots of touchup on lower sides; a few small dents; filled crack in one side of back with touchup in that area. (800 - 1,200)

87. Black duck, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade with challenge ink stamp on underside. 16” x 5.5” x 7”. Original paint with moderate wear; filled crack in back that has been touched up; also touchup at very small chip in tail and part of the neck seam; several shot marks. (400 - 600) 88.

Early mallard hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. 16.5” long. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; hit by shot; a few spots of old touchup. (600 - 900)

89.

Bluewing teal drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Standard grade with glass eyes. 12.25” long. Original paint with minor wear; neck filler is missing.

Provenance: McCarthy estate.

(800 - 1,200)

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90 Detail

90.

Exceptionally well preserved curlew, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Glass eyes. 18.5” long. Near mint original paint with subtle feather paint detail; very small amount of paint missing at back of neck seam; hairline “in factory” crack in back.

Provenance: Colodny collection. (15,000 - 25,000)

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91 Detail

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91.

92

93

Dove with glass eyes, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Loop feather paint detail on back and upper sides. 10” long. Near mint original paint; very small rough spot on one edge of tail. (3,000 - 4,000)

92. Rare dunlin, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Glass eye model. 12” long. Original paint with minor wear; hit by shot on one side; short hairline crack on the same side.

93.

Dowitcher with tack eyes, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. 11” long. Original paint with good detail and very minor wear; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of John Hillman, Seagirt New Jersey. Hillman collection stamp on the underside, also tiny Hilllman staple. (3,000 - 4,000)

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Joseph B. French. “JB French” ink stamp on underside. Literature: “Mason Factory Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid. (4,000 - 6,000)

55


Virginia Charles Birch

1867 - 1956 Willis Wharf, Virginia

94 Detail

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94.

Hollow carved Canada goose, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia. Inserted hardwood bill splined through to the back of head. Raised neck seat and tack eyes. 23.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Meyer collection.

(15,000 - 20,000)

Charles Birch with some of his brant and goose decoys, circa 1910

94

Born in Maryland, Charlie moved to Chincoteague, Virginia when he was 22, and met and married his wife. In 1906, he relocated to Willis Wharf where, in addition to continuing to work on the water, he fished and harvested his own oyster grounds. His wares were sold at the local Walker Brothers Oyster House. He supplemented this income by doing interior carpentry, and he was known to have built several fine boats. His decoys were hand chopped and finely finished. They are reminiscent of the New Jersey style but differ in that only the upper half is hollowed out, with the solid bottoms acting as partial ballast. In his rare spare time, he enjoyed playing his violin for family and friends(1). Reference: (1)Fleckenstein, Henry A. 1983. “Southern Decoys of Virginia and the Carolinas.” Schiffer, Pub., Exton, PA.

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95.

Canada goose, from Cobb Island, Virginia. Used as both a stick up and a water decoy. Classic chine running down the back with split raised tail and wings. 22” x 9” x 12”. Root head has been reattached and is loose, secured by old nails; multiple coats of old paint and various stages of flaking; cracks in body and neck; worn areas to bare wood. (2,500 - 3,500)

97.

American merganser drake from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Approximately 18” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good.

95

96. Canvasback hen, Dave “ U m b re l l a ” Wa t s o n , Chincoteague, Virginia. Balsa body with inset rectangular weight and cedar head. 15” long. Original paint with minor wear; small dents in balsa. (2,000 - 3,000)

96

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Bill Purnell, Ocean City, New Jersey, branded “WHP Jr.” (1,750 - 2,250)

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98.

Bluebill drake, Will Mason, Eastern Shore of Virginia. Raised neck seat and stylish head carving. 15” long. Original paint with minor wear; hit by shot on one side; hairline crack through neck; very slight roughness to tip of bill. (1,500 - 2,000)

98 58


99

100

99.

Pair of bluebills, Eli Doughty, Hog Island, Virginia. Both have inlet heads. 12” and 11” long. Old in use repaint with moderate wear; small cracks in drake’s back and tail.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (4,000 - 6,000)

100. Brant, Dave “Umbrella” Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Subtle feather paint detail on sides. 18.5” long. Original paint with very minor wear on most of the decoy; wear on breast, top of head, and edges of tail; thin crack in neck that has been touched up.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (4,000 - 6,000) 59


Featured in an article on Ira Hudson by Cameron McIntyre September 1995.

Ira Hudson

1876 - 1949 Chincoteague, Virginia

101

101.

Extremely rare crook neck root head brant, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. His earlier style, circa 1920. Good paint detail and patina. Tack eyes. It is extremely rare to find one of these in original paint. 18.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small amount of filler showing at one side where slight roughness by knots was filled when the decoy was made; age split in one lower side and crack on top of tail.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. “Ira Hudson and Family,” Henry Stansbury. (25,000 - 30,000)

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101 Detail

101 Detail

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102 Detail

102

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102. Outstanding solid cotton wood body Canada goose in a belligerent pose, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 2nd quarter 20th century. Retains half of a paper tag attached by J. Creighton Riepe, which reads, “CANADA GOOSE (SOLID COTTON WOOD), CHINCOTEAGUE BAY, VA; AGE 30 DAYS; SECURED-IRA W. HUDSON CHINCOTEAGUE, VA., NOVEMBER 18, 1948; THIS WAS A DECOY PICKED FROM A GROUP OF 12 HE MADE AND WAS DELIVERING; HE DUPLICATED FOR US”. 29.25” long. Wonderful dry original paint with fine detailed feathering; one or two small chips in the paint on the back and around the neck; several small seperations in lower side; overall structurally good.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection J. Creighton Riepe, Jr.

Literature: Richard W. Oliver, July 1985, lot 1012. (40,000 - 50,000)

63


Louisiana Mark Whipple 1888 - 1961 Bourg, Louisiana

Mark McCool Whipple

103

103. Rigmate pair of mallards, Mark Whipple, Bourg, Louisiana. Hen 14.75” long, drake 15.5”. Original paint; minor flaking and wear; mostly on the drake; hen has a crack in the underside; both have a few small dents.

64

Provenance: Staplin collection. Purchased at the July 1985 Richard Bourne decoy auction.

Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie.

(3,500 - 4,500)


104. Exceptional pintail drake, Mark Whipple, Bourg, Louisiana. Good form with “broom stick” style tail. 18.25” long. Tiny amount of touchup to a scuff on the underside. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of David Hall. Hall collection brand in underside. Also inscribed into the underside is the number “002392211”.

104 Detail

Literature: Cheramie.

“Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian (9,000 - 12,000)

104

104 Detail

104 Detail

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105

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110

105. Bluewing teal hen, Reme Roussel, Raceland, Louisiana. Roussel’s stamp is in the underside, with the date 1967 written in pencil. 10.75” long. Very good and original.

108. Ring neck hen, Ebdon Gisclair, Golden Meadow, Louisiana. Signed. Also old tag on underside reads “Puleduex or coot”. Slightly turned head and relief wing carving. 10” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Dozier estate.

(800 - 1,200)

106. 1/2 size mallard drake, Mitchell LaFrance, New Orleans, Louisiana. Signed and dated 1940. Relief wing carving. 8.75” long. Provenance: Dozier estate.

(650 - 1,250)

107. 1/2 size pintail hen, Charles Jeanfreau. Relief wing carving. Signed “Chas. Jeanfreau” and dated 1952. 8.75” long. Excellent.

66

Provenance: Dozier estate.

(650 - 950)

Provenance: Dozier estate.

(600 - 900)

109. Small coot, Xavier Bourg, Larose, Louisiana. Signed. Relief wing carving. 10.5” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Dozier estate.

(600 - 900)

110. Pair of mallards, Arthur Pellegrin, Houma, Louisiana. Both 14.75” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; most of the hen’s bill has been replaced; repair to crack in hen’s neck. (1,500 - 2,000)


Walton Champagne 1880 - 1963 Bourg, Louisiana

111 111. Very rare mallard hen, Walton Champagne, Bourg, Louisiana. Signed and dated 1951. 15.25” long. Unrigged; small dent in one side of tail otherwise excellent and original. Provenance: Dozier estate. Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends, Brian Cheramie, p. 28. (3,000 - 5,000)

Walton Champagne (1880-1963) was known as the dug out master. A contemporary of Mark Whipple who also lived near Bourg, Louisiana.

111 Detail

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112. Coot from Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, 1st quarter 20th century. 9.5” long. Appealing old in use repaint; a few tiny dents. Provenance: Staplin collection. Purchased by Staplin from Dave Hall in 1974. (400 - 600) 113. Bluewing teal hen, Ebdon Gisclair, Golden Meadow, Louisiana. Relief wing carving and very slightly turned head. 12” long. Near mint original paint; small dent on one side of head.

Provenance: Dozier estate.

114.

Ringneck drake, Mark Whipple, Bourg, Louisiana. 12” long. Original paint with minor flaking and wear; hairline crack through neck.

Provenance: Dozier estate.

(400 - 600)

(600 - 900)

115. Ring neck drake, Stanwood Bootsie Whipple, Bourg, Louisiana, circa 1920s. 11” long. Appealing old in use 68

repaint; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Staplin collection. Purchased by Staplin from John Hammond in 1976. (500 - 800)

116. Ringneck drake, Sydney Foret, Raceland, Louisiana. 11.25” long. Appealing old in use repaint; a few small shot marks.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

117.

Long necked pintail drake from Louisiana, 1st quarter 20th century. 12.75” long. A mixture of worn original paint and old in use repaint; bill repair; two holes in one side, approximately 1/4” in diameter. (350 - 450)

(350 - 450)

118. Early mallard hen with relief wing carving, from Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana. 16” long. Old in use repaint; cracks in bill; fairly rough. Provenance: Dozier estate.

(300 - 400)


118A. Mallard drake believed to have been carved by a river pilot from Louisiana, circa 1940. Relief wing carving and glass eyes. Inset rectangular weight in underside. 16.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and very minor wear; structurally good.

Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 274. (6,000 - 8,000)

118A Detail

118A

118B. * Two 1/4 size carvings, Tan Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. A shoveler hen signed and dated 1999 and a gadwall hen signed and dated 1997. Both are inscribed “For Faye and Wayne Watson”. Both have slightly turned heads and carved crossed wingtips. Both 7.25” long. Excellent and original. Provenance: Watson Collection.

(3,000 - 5,000)

118B 69


118C

118D

118C. Six miniatures, Laurent Verdin, Point au Chien, Louisiana. Signed. A pair of shovelers, pair of bluewing teal, greenwing teal drake, and snow goose. Between 5.5” and 6.75”. Very good and original. (400 - 600)

118E Detail

118D. Six miniatures, Laurent Verdin, Point au Chien, Louisiana. Signed. A pair of mallards, pair of widgeon, and a pair of gadwalls. Between 6.5” and 7”. Very good and original. (400 - 600)

118E Detail

118E Detail

188E. Sketch and note book used by Otis Dozier Used in 1951 and again in the mid 1960s when Dozier was traveling in Southern Louisiana researching and buying decoys that we have for sale in this auction from his estate, as well as the ones we sold in our November 2017 auction. Dozier was an artist living in Louisiana and Texas intrigued with decoys and their makers. Good. (4,000 - 6,000)

118E 70


Domingo Campo

1887 - 1957 Shell Beach, Louisiana Campo lived at Shell Beach were he made a living selling bait and providing services for the local sportsmen that visited the area. As a way to make additional income he would periodically raffle his decoys to the visiting sports at a cost of ten cents a chance.

119

119. Standing decorative bluewing teal hen, Domingo Campo, Shell Beach, Louisiana. Relief wing carving and tack eyes. Made with balsa wood. One of Campo’s later so called “Church Carvings”. 10.5” long. Original paint with slight wear; feet have been professionally reattached by Russ Allen. (9,500 - 12,500)

119 Detail 71


Contemporary

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121

123

124 120. Brant, Marty Hanson, Hayward, Wisconsin. “MH” carved in underside. Relief wing carving and very slightly turned head. 19.25” long. Excellent and original. (900 - 1,200) 121. Sleeping black duck, Cameron McIntyre, New Church, Virginia. Signed and dated 1990. Feather paint detail. 15” long. Original paint with minor wear; a few tiny dents. (900 - 1,200) 123. Five plovers in various poses and plumage styles, Marcel Defoe, Quebec, Canada. Carved in the Long Island style. Stressed paint surface as to appear old. Stands provided for all. Each is approximately 10” long x 12” high on base. Very good and original. (700 - 900) 72

125 124. Pair of oversize mallards, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. “G Strunk” stamped in weight. Hen is in preening pose. Both have raised, carved wingtips and fluted tail. Hen 18.5” long, drake 19”. Very good and original.

Provenance: Bokelman estate.

125.

Pair of preening mergansers, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. “G. Strunk” stamped in weights. Hen 16” long, drake 17”. Very good and original.

Provenance: Bokelman estate.

(650 - 950)

(600 - 900)


126

126. Hollow carved great grey heron, William Gibian, Onancock, Virginia. Relief wing carving. Approximately 36” long. Original paint; thin crazing on parts of back and neck. (1,000 - 1,400) 127. Large hollow carved egret, Bill Gibian, Onancock, Virginia. Signed. Relief wing carving. Approximately 31” long. Original post included. (1,000 - 1,400)

127

128. Pair of Canada geese, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Both have slightly turned heads. One is in nestled pose. Both are stamped “G. Strunk” and “R Kobli” in weights and are signed “Del Bokelman.” Both approxiamtely 22” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Bokelman estate.

(1,500 - 2,000)

128

73


Maryland

129 Detail

129. Early and rare upper bay bluewing teal in early season plumage, unkown carver, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Tack eyes with visible and appealing draw knife marks over both body and head. Distinctive paddle tail. Slightly raised neck seat. 9.5” x 4.5” x 4.5”. Strong original paint with visibly large navy bluewing patches on back; crack at neck seat secured by old square nail; a few small rub areas otherwise original and good. (7,000 - 9,000)

129

74


130

131

131 Detail

130 Detail 130. Rigmate pair of canvasbacks, Sam Barnes, Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1900. Good feather paint detail. Both 16” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few tiny dents; short hairline surface crack in one side of drake.

131. Rare rigmate pair of redheads, Henry Lockhard, Elk Neck, Maryland, circa 1900. Drake is in very rare semi high head pose. Fine paint detail. Hen 14.25” long, drake 13.75”. Original paint with minor wear; small drip of off white paint on one side of hen’s head. (4,000 - 5,000)

Literature: “Decoys of the Mid Atlantic Region,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (4,500 - 6,500) 75


132

133

134

135

136

137

132. Pair of widgeon, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1989. Both have slightly turned heads and relief wing carving. Hen 14” long, drake 14.5”. Very good and original. (1,600 - 2,000) 133. Pair of old squaw, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Both are signed. Both have slightly turned heads. Hen 13.25” long, drake 19.5”. Very good and original. (1,600 - 2,000) 134. Swimming Canada goose, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1986. Slightly turned head and neck. 29” long. Very good and original. (1,600 - 2,000)

76

135. Pair of pintails, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1984. A large “L” is cut in the underside. Both approximately 17” long. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on extremities; a few small dents. (1,600 - 2,000) 136. Canada goose, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1988. Relief wing carving and slightly turned head. 25.5” long. Very good and original. (1,600 - 2,000) 137. Black duck, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. 18.5” long. Original paint with a small amount of wear; a couple of small surface cracks in body. (1,500 - 2,000)


138. Swan, John Vickers, Cambridge, Maryland. 29.25” long. Original paint with minor wear; small cracks. (2,000 - 3,000)

138 139. Canada goose, John Vickers, Cambridge, Mary-land. 30” long. Original paint with good patina and very minor wear; filled cracks in back from when the decoy was made. Provenance: Meyer collection. (3,000 - 4,000)

139

140. Swan, John Vickers, Cambridge, Maryland. 32” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small crack at end of bill.

Literature: “Chesapeake Bay Decoys: The Men Who Made and Used Them,” Robert Richardson. (2,000 - 3,000)

140 141. Pair of pintails, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Hen has Sam Dyke collection stamp on underside. Drake has slightly turned head. 19.25” and 21.25” long. Original paint with moderate wear; both have cracks in the body; hen has neck crack repair as well as a bill repair; hen has chip missing form the tail. (2,000 - 3,000)

141 77


Sporting Art

142

142. Impressive oil on canvas, Roland Clark. Five black ducks landing in late season marsh. Image measures 20” x 23 1/2”. Signed on lower right. Professionally framed. Area of professional restoration above ducks and in the sky. (7,000 - 9,000)

Clark’s boyhood love of the outdoors was discovered while growing up along the Atlantic Flyway in New Rochelle, New York, situated on the Long Island Sound’s northern shore. Although his three brothers graduated from Cornell University in either law or architecture, he preferred the company of baymen, the marshes, and most of all the migrating waterfowl. The innate hunter in him chased the sound’s waterfowl: scaup, mallards, canvasbacks, pintails, redheads, wigeons, shovelers, ringnecks, black ducks, and Canada geese. Clark’s early work showed enough showed enough talent to his attorney father to warrant some private tutoring in art and a stint at the Art Students League, which accords no degrees. 78


143

143. “Low Tide at Dawn,” an oil on canvas of Canada geese, pintails, and shorebirds, Sir Peter Scott. Signed and dated 1980. Image size 20” x 30”. Very good and original. (6,500 - 9,500)

79


144

144. “October Stream,” an oil on canvas by Eric Sloane. Signed. Image size approximately 23” x 47”. Tag on back indicates painting was for sale at one time in Hammer Galleries, New York, New York. Very good and original. Provenance: Paul Tudor Jones II collection. (12,000 - 15,000)

144 Detail 80


145 145 Detail 145. “Mallards on the Mudflats,” a watercolor by Archibald Thorburn. Signed “A Thorburn 1929”. Professionally matted and framed. Image size approximately 15” x 21 1/2”. Very good and original. Provenance: Paul Tudor Jones II collection. (12,000 - 14,000)

81


146 146.

147 147. Watercolor on paper, Chet Renneson. Image of brant flying over marsh at sunset. Measures 18” x 26”. Professionally matted and framed. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250)

82

Watercolor on paper, David Hagerbaumer. Mallards and greenwing teal landing in wooded marsh. Strong detail in background. Image measures 21” x 30”. Brass plaque on frame with title “River Bottom Marsh”. Professionally matted and framed. (3,000 - 4,000)


147A

147A. “Canada Goose Portrait”, George Browne (19181958), oil on canvas. Measures 30” by 36”. Signed lower left and titled on back of stretcher. Painted in Seebe, Alberta in 1948. According to Browne’s records this painting sold in 1955 through Grand Central Gallery, New York, New York for $500. Painting is shown hanging in Browne’s studio in Seebe, Alberta on page 49 of “Artists of the North American Wilderness - George & Belmore Browne” by John T. Ordeman and Michael M. Schreiber. Minor yellowing and a few paint rubs in sky; some water staining on back of canvas; very good overall.

Literature: “Artists of the North American Wilderness – George & Belmore Browne”, Ordeman and Schreiber. Page 49, exact painting. (4,000 - 6,000)

83


147B

147C. Vultures, Allen Brooks. signed and dated 1931. 14” x 18.5”. Original and good. (2,500 - 3,500)

84

147B. Herring gull, Bruce Horsfall. Signed and dated 1913. Image size 14.25 x 18.5”. Original and good. (2,000 - 3,000)

147C


147D 147D. Painting of a gray sea eagle, Allen Brooks. Image size 14” x 18”. Original and good. (2,500 - 3,500)

147E

147E. Phalaropes, Bruce Horsfall. First American bird art exhibition April 1926. 3.25” x 16”. Original and good. (1,750 - 2,250)

85


147F

147H

147G

147F. Oil on canvas of fisherman, Howard Hastings. 29.25” x 22.25”.Original and good. (1,250 - 1,750)

147G. Towhee, Allen Brooks. Image size oval 10” x 9”. Original and good. (1,500 - 2,500)

147H. Horned Lark, Bruce Horsfall. 14” x 17.75”. (2,500 - 3,500)

86


148 148. Oil on board, “Baldpate,” Richard Bishop. Image measures 11 1/4” x 15”. Signed in the lower right, with copyright 1946. On back in Bishop’s writing, “painted and copyrighted and copyright retained by Richard Bishop 1946. Keep down”. Five widgeon drake landing in marsh. Professionally framed. Heavy texturing. Very good and original. (3,000 - 4,000)

149 149. “Honkers in Lassen County,” Harry Curieux Adamson (1916-2012). Oil on canvas signed lower right. Measures 22” x 34”. Excellent and original. Provenance: Coeur d’Alene auction 2006, lot 210. Christie’s New York, December 3, 2008, lot 134. Private New York estate. (3,500 - 4,500)

87


Frank Benson

150

88


Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Benson spent most of his life in that seaport town. He is credited with making the American sporting print a distinct art form and for being one of the outstanding wildlife printmakers of the 20th century. He studied art in Boston at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and, in 1883, he studied in Paris with Gustave Boulanger and Jules Lefebvre at the Académie Julian during the French Impressionism movement. By the early 1900s, he had a very successful career and was a member of the “Ten American Painters,” a prestigious group of early impressionists. Midway through his career as a recognized oil painter, he began to paint with watercolors. In 1921, Benson became a serious watercolorist while on a fishing trip to the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec and produced a great number of works in this medium.

Frank Benson

He had a studio on North Haven Island off the coast of Maine and was a lifelong hunter and keen observer of nature. He is lauded for his clear design and the naturalness of his birds and hunters. His works have been exhibited at numerous outstanding museums and galleries (1). Reference: (1)www.askart.com.

150. “Annual Migration,” a watercolor by Frank Benson (18621951). Signed and dated 1903. Professionally matted and framed. Image size approximately 15” x 19”. Old Milch Gallery’s New York label on back. Very good and original. Provenance: Paul Tudor Jones II collection.

(25,000 - 35,000)

150 Detail

89


152

151

151. Original pen and ink study for “Shooting Pictures” portfolio cover for the Charles Scribner and Sons, A.B. Frost. Signed. Subject matter is a setter’s head. Image size approximately 10.5” x 13”. Very good and original.

152.

Watercolor on paper, David Hagerbaumer, 2001. Image of five wood ducks landing in wooded marsh. Professionally matted and framed. Image measures 9” x 12”. Signed and dated lower left. (1,200 - 1,500)

Provenance: Paul Tudor Jones II collection. (1,500 - 2,000)

153 153. Pen and colored ink of a sea trout, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut. Signed with a remarque on matting of Shang cooking over a camp fire. The other remarque is in a drawn birch log frame, “The rivers teemed with sea trout, behind each rock and log, and nothing seemed to coax ‘em out like le speciale de shepaug.” In oval frame. Approximately 29.5” wide. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,400)

90


154 154. “Eveningsong,” oil on board by Cameron McIntyre, New Church, Virginia. Signed. Image size approximately 14” x 20”. Very good and original. (2,250 - 2,750)

155 155. Impressive oil on board, titled “Duped,” Mark Susinno. Image of brown trout taking a dry fly. Signed in the lower right. Copyright 1995. 31” x 33”. (1,500 - 2,500)

91


Ward Brothers

Crisfield, Maryland

156

92


156 Detail

156. Very rare rigmate pair of widgeon, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1936 models with great form. Drake has a turned head. Hen is 15.5”, drake is 14.75”. Original paint with minor wear; hen has small amount of touchup at plug in top of head; drake has short surface crack in one side and touchup on top of head and to small area on one side of breast; both have separations at neck seams and bill replacements.

Provenance: Part of a group of six widgeon found in 1992 in Anacortes, Washington. (20,000 - 30,000)

156 Detail

93


157

157. Rigmate pair of shooting stool model pintails, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Both are signed by Lem on underside and dated 1971. Both also say “1 of 15 pintail shooting stools the last the Ward Brothers ever made”. Carved from cedar, both have turned heads. Drake measures 19” x 7” x 7”. Excellent and original paint. (4,000 - 6,000)

158. Mallard hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 model with balsa body, slightly turned cedar head and inserted cedar tail. 17.25” long. Very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000)

158

159. Pair of shooting stool model bluebill, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Both have turned heads and are inscribed for “Bobby Richardson collection Lem Ward 1972”. Both 15.25” long. Very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000)

159 160. Early Canada goose Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Several small “J”s stamped in to the back. Slightly turned head. 24.75” long. Worn old paint; numerous cracks. (2,000 - 3,000)

160 94


161. Rare pintail hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1948. Unusual sleeping pose with hardwood inset tail. Signed “LT Ward and Bro Crisfield, Maryland” on underside. Bill is carved so that it appears that it is tucked into feathers on back. A gunning style decoy that was never hunted. 15” x 7” x 6”. Strong original paint; small area at top of head appears to have a light varnish spill(only visible under black light). (5,000 - 7,000)

161 Detail

161

162. Sleeping canvasback drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 model with balsa body and cedar head and tail. Relief wing carving. 15.5” long. Near mint original paint; structurally very good; decoy was never used. (5,000 - 7,000)

162 Detail

162

95


163. 1938 model black duck, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head and subtle feather paint detail. Branded “TPG” twice in the underside. 17.75” long. Very slight roughness to tip of bill; several tiny dents.

Literature: “Ward Brothers Decoys,” Ron Gard and Brian McGrath. (10,000 - 14,000)

163

163 Detail 96


164. 1936 model canvasback hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. “LT Ward and Bro” ink stamp under the tail. Signed and dated 1936. With turned head. 16.75” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small hairline cracks in breast. (9,500 - 12,500)

164

164 Detail

97


Miniatures by Elmer Crowell 1862 - 1952 East harwich, Massachusetts

165

166

167

168

169

170

165. Miniature feeding canvasback, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. 2.5” long. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

168. Bluewing teal drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside of the base. 2.75” long. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

166. Miniature redhead hen, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. 3.25” long. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

169. Miniature greenwing teal drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the base. 2.75” long. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

167. Miniature hooded merganser drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. 2.75” long. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

170. Miniature goldeneye drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s round ink stamp is on the underside. 3.75” long. Very good and original.

98

Provenance: Tag on underside indicates miniature was lot 269 in a 1979 Richard Bourne decoy auction. (1,200 - 1,500)


171

172

173

174

175

176

171. Miniature old squaw drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. 2.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(1,250 - 1,750)

172. Pair of miniature pintails, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is on the underside of each. Both approximately 3.5” long. Near mint original paint; spots of touchup on drake’s neck. (2,000 - 3,000) 173. Miniature pintail hen, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Identified on underside. 2.75” long. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

174. Miniature brant in running pose, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Old Bourne auction tag taped to underside of base that reads “Shelburne Museum collection”. 3” long. Very good and original. Provenance: Colodny collection.

(1,250 - 1,750)

175. Miniature quail, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. 3.25” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

176.

Miniature Canada goose, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. 4.25” long. Small amount of touchup on edge of tail by G.G. Hopkins, otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(1,500 - 2,000)

(1,500 - 2,000) 99


177

178

179

180

181

182

177. Miniature old squaw drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s circular ink stamp is on the underside. Slightly turned head. 2.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Colodny collection.

178.

Miniature laughing gull, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. On driftwood base. 3.75” long. Small mount of touchup at tip of bill otherwise very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

(1,250 - 1,750)

179. Miniature willet, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Carving is just over 3” tall. Very good and original; surface has darkened with age. (2,000 - 3,000)

100

180.

Miniature upland plover, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular brand is in the underside. Carving stands 3.5” tall. Very good and original; surface has darkened with age. (2,250 - 2,750)

181. Miniature godwit, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is under the base. Carving stands 3 3/8” tall. Excellent and original, surface has darkened with age. (2,250 - 2,750) 182. Miniature wood duck drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Wide body style. 3.5” long. Very good and original. Provenance: Colodny collection.

(1,500 - 1,800)


183

184

185

186

187

183. Miniature dowitcher, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Traces of Crowell’s circular ink stamp on underside. 3” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(2,000 - 3,000)

184. Miniature sanderling, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. 2.5” long. Very good and original. Provenance: Staplin collection.

Provenance: Colodny collection.

187.

Two miniature songbirds, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. A pewee and a brown thrasher. Pewee has Crowell’s rectangular stamp in underside. Thrasher has Crowell’s circular ink stamp on underside. Both approximately 2.25” and 2.5” long. Each has a professional bill chip repair by G.G. Hopkins.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(2,000 - 3,000)

185. Miniature American merganser drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s round ink stamp is under the base. 3.25” long. Excellent and original.

186. Miniature flicker, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. AE Crowell and Son is on the underside marked “Flicker”. 2.5” long. Very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000)

(1,250 - 1,750)

(1,250 - 1,750) 101


Decoratives by Elmer Crowell

1862 - 1952 East harwich, Massachusetts

187A Detail

187A. Extremely rare flying wood duck drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Mounted on hardwood backboard. Wingspan is approximately 17”. Fanned tail with fluted feather carving at edges of wings. Carved wooden crest and foot. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is on back of the bird. Fine feather paint detail and good patina. Very good and original. (20,000 - 30,000) 102


187A

103


187B Detail

187B 187B Detail 187B. Full size decorative Wilson’s tern, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Relief wing carving and forked tail. Burned in the underside is “J. Ashley Dempsey from A.E. Handy”. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Also written on underside is “Wilson’s tern”. 11.5” long. Original paint with good detail and very slight wear; small area of one side of neck appears to have had some sort of cleaning agent spilled on it and the paint is a little bit thinner there; professionaly repaint to the very tip of the bill.

104

Provenance: Colodny collection.

(12,000 - 15,000)


187C. Full size least tern, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. The carving is also signed “AE Crowell Cape Cod”. Approximately 7.5” long. Relief wing carving and split tail. Original paint with good patina; restoration to part of the gesso feet with touchup on both of them. (3,500 - 4,500)

187C

187D. 3/4 size mallard drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Slightly turned head. Good rasp carving on back of head and breast. 13” long. Near mint original paint; filled “in the making” crack in the back.

Provenance: Formerly in the Rowland collection. Stamped “C.R.” (1,500 - 2,500)

187D

105


North Carolina Alvirah Wright

1869 - 1951 Duck, North Carolina Around 1920, Alvirah Wright was in full swing as a decoy maker. If you were to buy a decoy directly from him, the price would have been 50 cents each. His production was mostly canvasbacks, redheads, and ruddy ducks, but it is his ruddy ducks that are considered to have the best form of all species he produced.

188.

Ruddy duck, Alvirah Wright, Duck, North Carolina, 1st quarter 20th century. A classic Wright ruddy duck with extended upswept tail carved out underneath. Puffed cheeks and slightly upswept bill. 11” x 6” x 7”. Old working paint with traces of what appear to be the original surface underneath in some areas; some roughness to edge of tail; small amount of in painting on one side of bill.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen (15,000 - 18,000)

188

106


188 Detail

107


189. Ruddy duck, Bailey Barco, Deals Island, North Carolina. 10.25” long. Old in use repaint; professional bill replacement; two cracks in back. Provenance: Meyer collection. Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (7,500 - 10,000)

189

108

189 Detail


190

190. Redhead drake, Avirah Wright, Duck, North Carolina. 15.5” long. Appealing repaint; numerous small cracks in body; larger crack in lower breast; minor wear to wood at bill; a few small dents.

Literature: “Gunnin Birds,” Kroghie Andresen. (3,500 - 4,500)

191. Canvas over wire frame swan, Mannie Haywood, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. 31.25” long. Worn old paint appears to be original; a few surface cracks in neck and head. (1,500 - 2,000) 192. Coot, Fentress. 13.5” long. Old in use repaint; a few small dents; thin crack through neck base; minor wear to the wood at top of head. (650 - 950) 193. Fairly large coot from North Carolina. 14.25” long. Old in use repaint; cracks through neck base. (500 - 800)

192

193

191

194. Canvas over wire frame swan George Crosson, circa 1970. Approximately 29” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and a little wear; paint shrinkage on neck and head. (450 - 750)

194 109


Lee Dudley

1860 - 1942 Knott’s Island, North Carolina Joel Barber was the first to recognize Dudley’s artistic talents. His book, published in 1939, starts off chapter one with Barber’s account of visiting the Dudley farm in Knotts Island, where purchased his first Dudley decoy. Barber wrote, “The decoys were very old and carved to perfection.”

195 Detail

110


195 Detail

195. Redhead drake, Lee Dudley, Knotts Island, North Carolina. “LD” brand in underside. 13.5” long. Worn old paint with strengthening to the black areas; rough area on end of underside of tail; vertical split in back of head; crack through neck base; thin cracks in back; minor dents. Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen. (15,000 - 20,000)

195

111


Virginia

196

197

198

199

200

201

196. Widgeon drake, Miles Hancock, Chincoteague, Virginia. 14” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally very good. (800 - 1,200) 197. Merganser drake, Ira C. Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. An older example of his work. “ICH” carved under the tail. 16.75” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small chip on one tail feather. (900 - 1,200) 198. Brant from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving and applied wooden bill. 16.25” long. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; structurally good.

112

Provenance: McCarthy collection.

(400 - 600)

199. Flat bottom style bluebill drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. 15.25” long. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; worn spot on one lower side; age split in underside; most of the bill is a professional replacement. (400 - 600) 200. Pair of brant, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded “Cigar”. Relief wing carving, slightly turned and lifted heads. Both 18.5” long. Original paint; minor discoloration and wear; structurally good.

Provenance: From Dick Stephenson’s hunting rig. (1,400 - 1,800)

201. Coot, Jim Rowe, Norfolk, Virginia. Stamped “JL Rowe” in underside. Decoy has a cast aluminum head. 11.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; crack in back; crack in breast. (500 - 700)


203

202

204

205

206

202. Oversize canvasback drake, Andrew Linton, Chincoteague, Virginia. Raised neck seat. Slightly turned head and notched tail. 17.25” long. Old in use repaint with moderate wear; hit by shot; minor roughness to tail. (500 - 800) 203. Hollow carved black duck from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Relief wingtip carving. 17.75” long. Worn old paint; small cracks; a few dog chew marks on bill; body seam has separated slightly. (600 - 900)

205. Hollow carved pintail drake, Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving. 17.75” long. Old in use repaint; a few small dents and shot scars. (400 - 600) 206. Ruddy duck, from the Mary James Farm of Sanbridge, Virginia, circa 1880. 8” x 4” x 5”. Very old repaint; head is a replacement, probably by Frank Finney.

Literature: “Collecting Antique Bird Decoys,” Lucky, p. 110, exact decoy pictured. (3,500 - 4,500)

204. Brant from North Carolina. Two piece body construction. 17.75” long. Worn old paint appears to be original; body seam has separated slightly. (350 - 450)

113


Sporting Art

207 208

207. “Morning Glory” an oil on canvas of a bald eagle, John Seerey-Lester. Image size 24” x 36”. Very good and original. (3,000 - 4,500)

114

208.

“Elk,” a large acrylic on canvas by Jorge Mayol. Signed. Image size approximately 28” x 38”. Very good and original. (2,500 - 3,500)


208A

208A

208A

208A. Three watercolors of waterfowl, Art Lemay. Signed. Professionally matted. Image size of each 15” x 35”. Very good and original. (2,500 - 3,500)

115


208B. Acrylic on board of a barred owl in a tree, Guy Coheleach. Signed. Image size approximately 40” x 30”. Very good and original.

208B

208C

208C. Watercolor of a golden eagle, Guy Coheleach. Signed. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 17” x 13”. Very good and original.

116

Provenance: Miller collection. (4,000 - 6,000)

Provenance: Miller collection. (2,500 - 3,400)


Guy Coheleach was born in New York City in 1933, and graduated from Cooper Union in 1956 after a military interruption serving in Korea with the 65th Combat Engineers from 1954-1955. Guy Coheleach has had one man exhibitions at major museums in 18 American cities. His paintings have received the Award of Excellence of the Society of Animal Artists eight times. He now lives in New Jersey and Florida.

209

209. “Osprey,” a large oil on canvas by Guy Coheleach. Dated 1984 on the back of the frame. Image size 72” x 48”. Very good and original.

Provenance: Paul Tudor Jones II collection.

(9,000 - 12,000)

117


210

210. Oil on canvas, Eugene Petit. A setter and a pointer. Image measures 25” x 21”. Signed by artist in lower right. Cross gallery sticker on the back. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

211

211. Acrylic on canvas, Peter Corbin, Reinbeck, New York. Signed and dated 1978. Subject matter is Bud Ward and Ronnie Bauer at the Meadow Island Gun Club, near Jones Beach Inlet, Long Island. Image size 29.5” x 21.5”. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250)

212 212. “Hungry Honkers,” an oil on board of landing geese in winter scene, Don Rodell. Signed. Image size 17.5” x 13.5”. Very good and original.

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Provenance: Miller collection.

(950 - 1,250)


212A

212A. Oil on board of Canada geese landing in marsh, Dr. Edgar Burke. Signed. Image size approximately 21” x 16”. Varnish has yellowed some, otherwise very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500)

212B

212B. Watercolor of ptarmigan in the snow, John Cyril Harrison (British, 18981985). Signed. Image size 16” x 22”. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,500)

212C 212C. Watercolor of retriever with duck, Nick Klepinger. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 30” x 25”. Signed. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,500)

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212D

212D. Watercolor of pintails coming in to hunter’s decoys in marsh, William Redd Taylor. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 21” x 28.5”. Very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000)

213

213. Watercolor of flying canvasbacks, Ken Carlson. Signed. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 17” x 34”. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250)

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214.

214

Acrylic on board of buffleheads landing in ocean swells, Bill Crockett, Onancock, Virginia. Signed and dated 1987. Image size 25” x 31”. Very good and original. (500 - 800)

215

215. Perry signed 1919. Oil on canvas of a spruce grouse. 33” x 15”. (500 - 800)

216. “Two in the Pines,” a watercolor by Arthur Fuller. Signed. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 10” x 15”. Very good and original. (600 - 900)

216

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217. “Winter Flight,” a watercolor by Mort Solberg. Signed. Image size approximately 18” x 30”. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,500)

217

218

218. “Caught in the Storm,” a watercolor by R. Scott. Signed. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 24” x 18”. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,500)

219. “The Valley Stream,” an acrylic on canvas by Jorge Mayol. Signed. Image size 24” x 40”. Very good and original. (1,250 - 1,750)

219

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219A

219A. “Bighorn sheep in the snow,” an acrylic on board by Harry Antis. Signed. Image size approximately 29” x 43”. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(2,500 - 3,000)

219B. “Elk in the mountains,” an acrylic on board by Harry Antis. Signed and dated 1980. Image size 25” x 42”. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(2,500 - 3,000)

219B

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219C 219C. Acrylic on board of a white tailed buck in the snow, Harry Antis. Signed and dated 1982. Image size approximately 27.5” x 22”. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection. (1,500 - 2,000)

219D. “Bull elk and four cows,” an acrylic on board by Harry Antis. Signed. Image size 24” x 36”. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection. (1,500 - 2,000)

219D 124


220. “Trails End,” an acrylic on canvas by Jorge Mayol. Image size 10” x 18”. Signed. Very good and original. (1,500 - 2,000)

220

221

222

223 221. “Pin tailed duck,” J.J. Audubon, engraved, printed, and colored by R. Havell, 1834. Number 46, Plate CCXXVII. Professionally framed and matted. Image showing measures 20.5” x 26”. Several very small spots of dark discoloration. (700 - 900) 222. “Canvas backed duck,” J.J. Audubon, chromolith by J. Bien, New York, 1860. “View of Baltimore.” Plate Number 395, Number 15-1. Professionally matted and framed. Image showing measures 25 3/4” x 37 1/2”. Slight

discoloration where matting meets frame on lower edge; otherwise retains strong color; very good condition; frame has some rubs and scratches. (1,500 - 2,000) 223. Oil on canvas, J. Dwight Bridge. Signed. Image size approximately 53” x 28”. Subject matter is items from his friend M. Jeffries tool shed that were arranged for this painting, which was used for a “prevent forest fires” magazine article. Very good and original.

Provenance: Hampshire.

From the Jeffries estate, Walpole, New (1,250 - 1,750) 125


Maryland

224

225

226

227

228

229

224. Canada goose, John Vickers, Cambridge, Maryland. 27.5” long. Old in use repaint; crack through neck; several filled cracks in body form before the decoy was repainted. (1,500 - 2,000)

227. Swimming Canada goose from Talbot County, Maryland. “Newman Valiant Talbot County MD” is written in pencil on underside. 29” long. Appealing old in use repaint; numerous cracks in body. (750 - 950)

225. Canvasback drake, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Retains McGaw dog bone weight. 15.5” long. Dry original paint; with minor discoloration and almost no wear; spots on body mostly on underside where it appears someone spattered it when they were cleaning a paint brush with a mixture of turpentine and paint. (1,250 - 1,750)

228. Canvasback drake, Jim Holly, Havre de Grace Maryland, circa 1900. 15.75” long. Original paint; minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents.

226. Brant, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 1987. 18.5” long. Very good and original. (400 - 600)

126

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Bill Purnell, branded “WHP JR.” (1,500 - 2,000)

229. Rare high head model canvasbacks, Will Heverin, Charlestown, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. 16” and 17” long. Appealing old in use repaint; crack through the top of the hen’s head; chip missing from underside of drake near weight; defect in wood in back of hen was filled with wood filler when the decoy was made, some of that has come out; roughness to hen’s tail. (650 - 950)


230

231

232 230. Set of six canvasbacks, Will Heverin, Charlestown, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. One is branded “PK BARNES”. From 15.5” - 16.5” long. All have appealing old in use repaint; several have neck cracks; one has a rough spot on the underside. (1,750 - 2,250) 231. Three cork body black ducks, Isaiah Travers, Cambridge, Maryland. Cork bodies, wooden heads, and bottom boards. Longest is 16”. Old in use repaint; chipping to cork; one has a crack through the neck. (1,500 - 2,000)

233 232.

Pair of balsa body buffleheads, Lloyd Sterling, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed. Both have slightly turned heads. Both 9.75” long. Original and good.

Provenance: Whittington collection.

(1,250 - 1,750)

233. Black duck, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. 18.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; thin crack in back; several very small chips on tail.

Provenance: Whittington collection.

(650 - 950) 127


Shorebirds

234

235

236

237

234. Two shorebirds, Jonas Sprague, Beach Haven, New Jersey, circa 1900. A robin snipe and a black bellied plover. Both with Sprague’s carved breast indention. Carved eyes. Largest is 11” x 2” x 5”. Both have numerous shot scars; and areas of missing paint. Provenance: Megargee collection. Acquired from Somers Headley March 1983. (1,200 - 1,500) 235. Black bellied plover, Rhodes Truex, Absecon, New Jersey. Shoe button eyes. 9” long. Near mint original paint with good patina; bill appears to be an old replacement. (650 - 950) 236. Robin snipe, Roy Maxwell, Lower Bank, New Jersey. Paint is in the style of Harry V Shourds. Wet on

128

238 wet feather blending on back. Painted eyes. Bill is splined through back of head. 10” x 2.5” x 5”. Original paint with a few small dents.

Provenance: Megargee collection.

(1,200 - 1,500)

237. Yellowlegs, Rhodes Truex, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Hat pin eyes. Branded “HVT” in underside. 10” x 2” x 5”. Strong original paint with minor discoloration on breast; some areas of bill are rubbed to bare wood.

Provenance: Megargee collection. Sold at a Julia & Guyette auction 9/16/88. (1,200 - 1,500)

238. Willet in running pose, John Dilley, Quogue, Long Island, New York. Relief wing carving. 13.25” long. Worn old paint; small cracks and shot marks; roughness near stick hole. (1,500 - 2,500)


239

240

239. Set of 12 yellowlegs, Straitor and Sohier, Boston, Massachusetts. All have 1871 patent dated stamped on the inside. Included are nine of what appear to be the original sticks, an original box marked “1 doz yellow leg”. Box is 11.75” x 8.75” x 3.5”. Shorebirds excellent and original; box fair. (1,000 - 1,400) 240. Yellowlegs, Joe King, Manahawkin, New Jersey, circa 1900. Bill is splined through back of head. Dowell runs from top of head to secure body. Scratch feather painting on back and side of wings. 11” x 2.5” x 4.5”. Some wood filler has flaked away on side exposing white lead original paint; a few small scratches; crack at neck which appears

241

to have some restoration at that area.

Provenance: Megargee collection. Purchased at an Oliver auction in 1990.

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, p. 169, exact decoy. (800 - 1,200) 241. Dowitcher, Eugene Cuffee or low grade John Dilley example, Quogue, Long Island, New York. Made as a paper weight and mounted on hardwood base. Underside has been slightly planed. 9.75” long. Original paint protected by an old coat of varnish.

Provenance: Staplin collection. Purchased at a 1986 Eldred auction. (800 - 1,200) 129


Sewey Rig

242

244

243

246

245

247

242. Black bellied plover, Bill Harris, Brigantine, New Jersey. 10.5” long. Original paint with moderate wear; bill is professional replacement by Russ Allen.

Provenance: Sewey rig.

(800 - 1,200)

243. Rare ruddy turnstone from Absecon, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. 9” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Sewey rig.

(1,000 - 1,400)

244. Early ruddy turnstone from Absecon, New Jersey. 8.5” long. Worn original paint; small cracks; bill is a professional replacement by Russ Allen. Provenance: Sewey rig.

(650 - 950)

245. A plover and robin snipe from New Jersey. Both 8.5” long. Both have parts of the bill missing; repair to a crack in tail of the robin snipe; paint on both appear to be original but significantly worn; small chip missing from tail of plover.

(500 - 700)

246. Very wide and round black bellied plover from New Jersey. 8.5” long. Old paint appears to be original; surface crack in one side; bill is an old replacement; lightly hit by shot. Provenance: Sewey rig.

(350 - 450)

247. Four plovers form New Jersey. Longest is 9.5” long. Worn old paint; one bill is missing; two bills are trimmed; one is three piece and one of the pieces is missing; split and chip missing from another.

130

Provenance: Sewey rig.

Provenance: Sewey rig.

(500 - 700)


248

249

250

251

253

252 248. Lesser yellowlegs from Nantucket, Massachusetts, circa 1900. 9.25” long. Original paint with a few small rubs; very tip of bill is missing. (650 - 950) 249. Large curlew, from Absecon, New Jersey. Tack eyes. 16” x 3” x 7”. Original paint; bill is probably a later replacement; crack in neck; numerous nail marks in underside of body, possibly where feathers were fastened to body at one time. Provenance: Megargee collection.

(700 - 900)

250. Yellowlegs, similar to the so called lumberyard birds, attributed to New Hampshire but likely from New Jersey. Strong wing relief carving with split and dropped tail. Splatter paint detail on back. 10” x 1 3/4” x 5”. Strong original paint; marks of scratches and flaking, mostly on one side of body; bill appears to have slipped from head slightly and has gouge at one side; discoloration to a white area of belly. (500 - 700)

251. Yellowlegs, John Horn, Oceanville, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. 12” long. Original paint with very minor wear; lightly hit by shot; bill is a professional replacement.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Somers G. Headley, “SGH” stamp in underside.

Literature: “Shorebirds Decoys,” John Levinson and Somers Headley, p. 86, exact decoy pictured. (650 - 950) 252. Rare dunlin, Thomas Gelston, Quogue, Long Island, New York. 12” long. Original paint with minor wear; bill appears to be an old replacement; chip near stick hole. (400 - 600) 253. Spotted sandpiper, Pine Harbor, New Jersey, circa 1900. 9” long. Appealing old in use repaint; structurally good. (250 - 350) 131


Hurley Conklin

1913 - 1983 Manahawkin, New Jersey

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255

256

254. Full size hollow carved heron, Hurley Conklin Manahawkin. Mounted on driftwood base. Base is included. 33.75” long. Very good and original. (750 - 950) 255. Full body standing black duck, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Branded “H Conklin”. On drift wood base in included. 20.5” long. Very good and original. (500 - 800)

132

256. Rare swimming snow goose, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Branded “H Conklin”. Head is turned slightly. 27” long. Driftwood base is included. Original paint showing some age; almost no wear. (500 - 800)


257

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259

260

261

262

257. Pair of American mergansers, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Hen has relief wing carving, drake does not. Both are branded “H Conklin”. Both approximately 18” long. Original paint with minor discoloration; paint shrinkage on lower sides and lower breast of hen. (400 - 600) 258. Pair of canvasbacks, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are branded “H Conklin”. Both have slightly turned heads. Hen is 16.5” long, drake is 17.5”. Very good and original. (400 - 600) 259. Pair of goldeneyes, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Hen is in sleeping pose. Both are branded “H. Conklin”. Hen is 13.25” long, drake 15.5”. Original paint with minor discoloration; structurally good. (400 - 600)

260. Pair of pintails, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Hen is in sleeping pose. Both are branded “H Conklin”. Hen is 15.25” long, drake is 19.5”. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration; structurally good. (400 - 600) 261.

Rare pair of wood ducks, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are branded “H Conklin” and signed. Both have slightly turned heads. Both 15.75” long. (600 - 900)

262. Rare pair of shovelers, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Branded “H Conklin” and signed. Both have very slightly turned heads. Hen 17.25” long, drake 16.75”. Slight discoloration to top of hen’s tail. (500 - 700)

133


263

264

265

266

267

268

263. Pair of redheads, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are branded “H Conklin”. Hen is in sleeping pose, drake’s head is turned 45 degrees to one side. Hen 13.25” long, drake 15”. Original paint with minor discoloration; small amount of paint shrinkage under hen’s tail; very small amount of paint shrinkage on top of hen’s tail. (400 - 600) 264. Rare pair of old squaw, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both hare branded “H Conklin” and have slightly turned heads. Drake has an inserted wooden tail sprig. Hen is 15.5” long, drake 18.25”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; paint shrinkage on drake’s breast.

134

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of John Hillman, Seagirt, New Jersey. Hillman collection stamp on underside of each. (500 - 800)

265. Pair of widgeon, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are signed and branded “H Conklin.” Both 15.75” long. Very good and original. (400 - 600) 266. Pair of bluebills, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are branded “H Conklin”. Both have slightly turned heads. Both 15.75” long. Several small specks of off white paint on back of each otherwise very good and original. (400 - 600) 267. Pair of brant, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are branded “H Conklin”. Hen is 16.5” long, drake 21.5”. Original paint with slight wear; discoloration on light areas of sleeper. (500 - 800) 268. Two gulls, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both have raised wingtips and are branded “H. Conklin”. Laughing gull is signed. Both are 18.25” long. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)


269

270

271

272

273

274

269. Pair of hooded mergansers, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are branded “H Conklin”. Both are approximately 14” long. Original paint; slight discoloration on white areas of drake; discoloration on underside of hen; structurally good. (400 - 600)

272. Pair of canvasbacks, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Signed and dated 1948 at a later date by Conklin. Both 16.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; shot marks on one side of drake; shot scar on back of drake’s head; slight wear to wood on hen’s tail. (500 - 800)

270. Ruddy duck hen and drake, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Drake is branded “H Conklin”. Hen is branded “HC”. Both have slightly turned heads. Hen 11.5”, drake 12”. Original paint with minor discoloration; structurally good. (400 - 600)

273. Pair of greenwing teal, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Branded “H Conklin”. Both have very slightly turned heads. Hen 14” long, drake 13.5”. Original paint with minor discoloration on the hen. (400 - 600)

271. Pair of mallards, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both are branded “H Conklin.” Both 18.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration; structurally good. (400 - 600)

274. Pair of bluewing teal, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Branded “H Conklin” and signed. Both have very slightly turned heads. Both approximately 13.5” long. Very good and original. (400 - 600)

End of Session One 135


Session Two

Thursday, November 8, 2018 – 10:00 AM

Decoratives Ward Brothers

Crisfield, Maryland

275 Detail

136


275. Exceptional preening Canada goose with lifted wings, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Mounted on burl base with small metal plaque. Fine paint detail and detailed feather carving. 23” long x 14” wide x 13” tall. Two small rough spots on the foot, otherwise excellent and original.

Literature: “Ward Brothers Decoys,” Ron Gard and Brian McGrath. (20,000 - 25,000)

275

137


276. Outstanding pair of hollow shovelers, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Each decoy has the following written on the underside in the Ward’s print, “(Spoonbill), (Shoveler), (Shovel Bill), L.T. Ward, 1965, Norris Pratt Collection”. Each exhibits raised primaries, and shoulder carving. Each measures 15” x 6” x 7”. Excellent original paint with a very small amount of paint shrinkage on each decoy; both are structurally excellent. (15,000 - 18,000)

276

276 Detail

138


277. Pair of preening mallards with lifted wings, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed, “Ward’s Deluxe Grade. Anas platyrhyncnos. S.F.D. 1964 Crisfield.” Hen has “Carved in one block,” written under wing. Hen is 16” long, drake is 14”. Excellent and original. (12,000 - 15,000)

277

277 Detail

139


278. Full size standing greenwing teal hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. 11.5” long. Original paint with moderate wear; several cracks in body; roughness to end of tail; feet are replaced. (2,000 - 3,000)

278

279.

Full size flying bluebill drake, Norris Pratt. Wingspan is 19 1/2”. Detailed feather carving. Inscription on back is faint but seems to read that the decoy was carved in 1957 but Pratt didn’t paint until April 1962. 18.5” long. Very good and original. (1,500 - 2,500)

279

280. Pair of 1936 model mallard bookends, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Both have slightly turned heads. Both approximately 7.5” long. Small separation at drake’s neck seam, otherwise original and very good. (2,500 - 3,500)

280

140


281 Detail

281

281. High style decorative widgeon hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Dated 1963. Head is positioned over back and underneath raised wing. Both wingtips are raised and extended away from the body. Tail is carved and fluted. Strong paint detailing on head and body. 12” x 6” x 6.5”. Original paint; structurally good. (9,000 - 12,000)

141


282 Detail

282. Very rare pair of standing 2/3 size mallards, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Both have slightly turned heads and raised peach basket stave wingtips. Fine paint detail. Hen is 12.25” long, drake is 12”. Very good and original. (16,000 - 20,000) 142

282


282 Detail

282

143


283

284

283. 1/5 size flying swan, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed. “To my dear wife Janet 12/25/03”. Mounted on hardwood backboard. Feather carving on wings and tail. Wing span is 14”. Very good and original.

144

Provenance: Joiner estate.

(3,500 - 4,500)

284. 1/4 size whistling swan, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed, “To my dear wife Janet” and dated 1996. Fine feather paint detail with painted crossed wingtips. 14 3/4” long. Slightly turned head and ice groove behind neck. Excellent and original.

Provenance: Joiner estate.

(2,000 - 3,000)


285. * Pintail hen standing on driftwood in marsh, Larry Tawes Sr., Salisbury, Maryland. Signed. Finely detailed feather carving and paint. Carved crossed wingtips. Approximately 15” tall. Very good and original. (1,500 - 2,000)

285

286. Pair of standing 1/2 size mallards, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Both are approximately 10” long. Balsa bodies, inserted cedar tails, and slightly turned cedar heads. Crack through one foot, otherwise very good and original. (3,000 - 4,000)

286

145


Miniatures

287

289

288

291

290 287. Pair of standing miniature Canada geese, Charles Safford, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Both stand just under 5” tall. Relief wing carving and loop feather paint detail. Very good and original.

Provenance: From the Safford family.

(3,000 - 5,000)

288. Miniature greenwing teal drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. 2.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Colodny collection.

(1,250 - 1,750)

289. Miniature brant, Joseph Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts. 2.5” long. Original paint with slight wear on tip of bill and tip of tail; structurally good. 146

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(1,500 - 2,500)

290. Miniature redhead drake, Joseph Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts. Unusual upswept tail. Lincoln’s ink stamp is on the underside. 1.75” long. Professional bill chip repair by Gigi Hopkins otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(1,250 - 1,750)

291. Miniature bluebill drake, Joseph Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts. Lincoln ink stamp on underside. 1.75” long. Professional bill chip repair by Gigi Hopkins otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(1,250 - 1,750)


292. Shadowbox carving of four ducks, a pair of bluewing teal and a pair of greenwing teal in pond, A.J. King, North Scituate, Rhode Island. Signed. Hardwood box with painted forest scene. Teal with shrubbery. Dimensions 8 1/2” x 10 1/4”. Very good and original. (4,000 - 6,000)

293. Rare miniature greenwing teal hen, John Blair, Sr, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last quarter 20th century. Approximately 5.25” long with tack eyes. Fine paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; professional tail chip repair by Gigi Hopkins.

292

Provenance: Staplin collection. (1,750 - 2,250)

294. Pair of miniature scaled quail, A.J. King, North Scituate, Rhode Island. Signed. Fine feather paint detail. Raised carved wingtips. 2.25” long. Excellent and original. (2,000 - 2,500)

295. Miniature fulvous tree duck, A.J. King, North Scituate, Rhode Island. Signed. Carved wingtips. 2.75” long. Very good and original. (1,500 - 2,000)

294

293

295 147


296

298

297

299

300

301

296.

302

Pair of 1/3 size wood ducks, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 2001. 9” long. Both have slightly turned heads. Very good and original. (250 - 350)

297. 1/4 size Canada goose and pintail drake, Dan Brown. Both are signed. Goose is dated 1970, pintail is dated 1972. Detailed feather carving on pintail. Goose 10” long, pintail 8.75”. Slight paint flaking and roughness at tip of pintail’s tail and tiny flake of paint missing from top of tail; otherwise both are very good and original. (950 - 1,250) 298. Miniature Canada goose, Hi Crandall, Westwood, California. Slightly turned head with raised separated wing carving. Fine paint detail. 8.5” x 3.5” x 4.25”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,000) 299. Miniature pintail drake, Hi Crandall, Westwood, California. Slightly turned head with raised carved wingtips. 8” x 2.25” x 3”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,000)

148

300. Miniature black duck, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire. 4.75” long. Original and good.

Literature: Cullen.

301.

Three miniatures. From an estate in California. Merganser drake, bluewing teal drake, and pintail drake. All are approximately 3” tall. Original and good. (650 - 950)

“Finely Carved and Nicely Painted,” Jim (950 - 1,250)

302. Miniature Canada goose, Charles Safford, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Approximately 6 3/4” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: From the Safford family.

(800 - 1,200)


303

304

305

306

307

303. Four 1/4 size decoys, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. A pair of mallards, signed and dated 1970. And a pair of widgeon with keels, signed and dated 1994. All have turned heads. Mallards have raised wingtips. Longest is 9”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 304.

1/4 size Canada goose ash tray Lloyd Sterling, Crisfield, Maryland. Approximately 12” long. Good feather paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; chip missing from one side of tail.

Provenance: Whittington collection.

(600 - 900)

305. 1/4 size bluebill hen, Lloyd Johnson, Bay Head, New Jersey. Signed. Slightly tuned head. 7.5” long. Original

paint with minor wear; professional touchup by Gigi Hopkins on small part of the head and on one lower side.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(500 - 800)

306. Miniature merganser drake, from Long Island, New York, 1st quarter 20th century. Carved wooden crest. Approximately 5 1/2” long. Original paint with good patina and very minor wear, mostly on crest; structurally good. (400 - 600) 307. Four miniatures, Charles Safford, Newburyport, Massachusetts. Two black ducks and two gulls. Longest is 4.5” long. Original and good.

Provenance: From the Safford family.

(800 - 1,200)

149


New England

308 Detail

308 308. Large merganser hen, Keyes Chadwick, Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Approximately 19.5” long. It is unusual to find these with a carved crest. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few tiny dents.

150

Literature: “Martha’s Vineyard Decoys,” Stanley Murphy. “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph. (4,500 - 6,500)


309 Detail

309

309. Large eider drake from Maine, 1st quarter 20th century. Approximately 18” long. Slightly turned head with bill carving and shoe button eyes. Original paint with very good patina and almost no wear; one eye is missing; when the decoy was made three small nails were added to keep a small crack from opening on one lower side. (10,000 - 14,000) 151


310. Old squaw drake, Jim Bourne, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Tack eyes. Inset rectangular weight in underside. 12.5” long. Original paint; with minor discoloration and wear; small spot of touchup on white area of each lower side and another small spot on white area of one wing; a few small dents and shot marks. (3,000 - 5,000)

310 311. Very early scoter from Brooklin, Maine. Inlet head that is attached with four small dowels. Carved crossed wingtips and fluted tail. Bill carving and carved eyes. 15.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; two small shot marks. Literature: “American Bird Decoys,” William Mackey, Jr., photo of rigmates. (2,000 - 3,000)

311 312.

Black duck, Lou Rathmell, Stratford, Connecticut. Rathmell’s weight inset in underside, dated 1941. Excellent scratch painting on head, fine feather detail on body. 18.5” x 7” x 6”. Probably a second coat of paint by Rathmell; a few small rubs and scratches; bill appears to be cracked and reset. (1,500 - 2,500)

312 313. Hollow carved old squaw hen, Salem, Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. Glass eyes. Head is in slightly lifted pose. 12.25” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; several small dents and shot marks. (2,000 - 3,000)

313 152


Kingston is a small town on the south shore of Massachusetts, located between Plymouth and Duxbury. This was the home of both Clarence and his brother, Fred. Both gentlemen were Boston Harbor Pilots for almost 50 years. Clarence graduated from the Massachusetts Nautical Training School in 1900 and ran the boats “Liberty,” “Louise,” and “America.”(2,3) Both brothers made decoys, but it was Clarence, the perfectionist, who gained fame with his expertly crafted, canvas over ash frame, “loomer” geese. He also made a small rig of oldsquaws (long- tailed duck) that were locally referred to as “Quandies.” Like his huge geese, these decoys were made oversized. They are carefully hollowed from below to reduce weight and increase buoyancy. Each is unique, not only for their life like head positions but because all are painted slightly differently. When asked about this by Dr. George Ross Starr, he replied(1): “As near as I know, the quandy is the only bird – or, leastwise, the only duck – where the feathering actually differs from bird to bird. We old fellas have shot a lot of ‘em in our time, and that’s the one thing we do agree on.” Reference: (1)Starr, George Ross Jr. MD. 1974. ‘Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway.” Winchester Press.

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314 Detail

314. Rare oversize hollow carved old squaw hen, Captain Clarence Bailey, Kingston, Massachusetts. In alert pose. Rigmate to lot 427 in our July 2018 auction. 16.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: From the Bailey family.

Literature: “Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway,” George Ross Starr. (8,000 - 10,000)

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James T. Holly

1855 - 1935 Havre de Grace, Maryland

Decoys have always been an important tool in hunting waterfowl on the Upper Chesapeake. The identity of the earliest carvers from the region has long since been lost to time, but early oral histories indicate that lures were made by pioneering families with names such as Morgan, Knight, Barnes, and Bishop. The Hollys and the Howletts are among the early families that have received the most research and documentation. It is stated by many that the Hollys of Havre de Grace deserve the credit as being the innovators of the Harford County style of decoy(4,5). The Holly family patriarch that was known to have carved decoys was John Holly (1818 – 1892). He is often referred to in the collecting world as “Daddy” Holly, apparently a nickname originally used by his family members. He produced decoys not only for his own use but for some of the more famous gunning scows and notable Upper Bay gunning clubs hosting hunting parties on the Susquehanna Flats. Articles published as early as 1853 reference him as one of the most respected duck hunters from Havre de Grace. He owned two large boats that may have served as accommodations for visiting hunters. These guests undoubtedly shot over decoys produced by “Daddy.” He and his wife Amanda had three sons – William, James T., and John W., Jr., and a daughter, Amanda. Census records indicate he was a “carpenter” and a “fisherman” – both occupations that would lend themselves to decoy production. While it is unclear how many decoys he produced both for himself and for others, there were, apparently, several unfilled orders upon his death. It is believed that these orders were completed by two of his sons; William and John, Jr. The extent of the carving beyond this by these two brothers is unclear and they seem to have scratched out an existence being employed primarily as painters and wall paperers.(4) His middle son, James, however, is well known as a somewhat prolific carver of decoys of exceptional quality and finish. He was also the most financially successful of the three brothers, having several stock investments and real estate holdings. His primary occupation was that of boat building, and he and George Howlett owned the two largest, best known boat yards in Havre de Grace.(4,5). James is credited with making the most seaworthy, yet trim, bushwhack boat on the Flats, and his crafts were said to be unequaled in the water(2,6). Workers in his yards constructed boats for many of the well known hunters of the time, such as members of the Barnes, Poplar, Heverin, and Heisler families. By 1901, a total of 197 boats had been produced under his supervision. In addition to boats, the yards also constructed a significant number of sink boxes for market hunters, guides, and clubs for use on the Flats. In fact, his obituary credits Jim as being the designer of the coffin shape for this device(3). James Holly catered to all the needs of the local watermen and visiting sports with not only the necessary boats and boxes, but by supplying them with the large numbers of the decoys needed to complete the rigs. Some of his orders were for decoys purchased by “The Philadelphia Ducking Club,” “The Spesutia Island Club,” the “San Domingo Club,”(4) and for members of the “Currituck Club”(3) among others. James and his brothers undoubtedly learned how to make decoys from their father and, at some point, it is very easy to imagine some form of collaboration by various members of the family. James, however, is often the son credited with being the most accomplished carver. According to Bob Shaw, “Jim Holly refined the style set by his father, making some of the most elegantly carved and painted decoys ever to ride American waters.”(3)

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James Holly’s artistic talents extended beyond the production of boats and decoys. He is known to have painted signs, and he produced one of the most famous of all paintings depicting sinkbox shooting on the Susquehanna Flats. He was also concerned with protecting this sport on his neighboring waters for, in 1884, he was listed in the court records as being a member of the Ducking Police for the Harford County side of the Flats. He, his wife, and two daughters lived on Market Stree in Havre de Grace, a mere two blocks from the waterfront(4).

315

155


Sinkbox shooting on the Susquehanna Flats, an original painting by James Holly

315 Detail

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315. Important pair of canvasbacks, James Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, last quarter 19th century. Glass eyes. Particularly fine paint pattern and carving style. Hen is 16” long, drake 15”. Original paint with very minor shrinkage and wear, mostly on drake; each has a thin crack in the neck.

Provenance: Lloyd Griffith collection. Formerly in the collection of Dr. James McCleery.

Literature: “Call to the Sky,” Robert Shaw, p. 71, exact decoys pictured. “The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys,” Joe Engers, editor, p. 138, exact decoys pictured. “Decoys of the Mid Atlantic Region,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 130. (125,000 - 150,000) James T. Holly(4)

315 Detail

References: 1.McKinney, J. Evans. 1978. “Decoys of the Susquehanna Flats and Their Makers.” Decoy Magazine Pub., Ocean City, MD. 2.Richardson, R.H. (ED). 1973. “Chesapeake Bay Decoys – The Men Wo Made and Used Them.” Tidewater Pub, Cambridge, MD. 3.Shaw, Robert. 2010. “Bird Decoys of North America – Nature, History, and Art.” Sterling Pub., NY. 4.Sullivan, John C. 1992. “The Hollys of Havre de Grace – The Innovators of the Harford County Style.” Decoy Magazine, Jan./Feb. 1992. 5.Tragakis, Chad. 2012. “Daddy Holly and Dick Howlett – The history and connections between Havre de Grace’s pioneering decoy makers.” Decoy Magazine, Jan./Feb. 2012.

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316. Hollow carved swan with barn door keel, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Appears to be around 50 years old. 29” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; several small dents mostly on one side. (750 - 1,000)

316 317. Swan, John Vickers, Cambridge, Maryland. 28” long. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; numerous small cracks in body; several spots where filler has been added with touchup on back.

Literature: “Chesapeake Bay Decoys,” Bobby Richardson. (1,750 - 2,250)

317

318. Cork body swan, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Signed and dated 1955. Included are two photos of Mitchell holding this swan. Photos are professionally matted and framed. 32” long. Repainted by Mitchell; minor shrinkage and wear; structurally good. (1,250 - 1,750)

318 319. Canada goose, James Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, last quarter 19th century. 23” long. Old in use repaint; numorous thin cracks and dents. (2,000 - 2,400)

319 158


Captain Ben Dye

1821 - 1896 Perryville, Maryland

320 Detail

320. Rare ruddy duck, Ben Dye, Perryville, Maryland, 2nd half 19th century. Carved eyes with raised neck seat. Colorful history told from underneath, starting with “WW” brand for Wilson Whitlock (thought to be a sink box gunning partner of Ben Dye) from when the rig was being used. Mackey collection stamp, and then “F” for Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. 10” x 5” x 5”. Traces of old paint on head and body with patina and oxidized wood where paint has worn away; slight rough area at tail; a few small scratches and dents; small amount of restoration by Russ Allen to a tiny spot of dry rot at the tip of the bill. Literature: “Bird Decoys of North America,” Robert Shaw, p. 203 and 273, exact decoy pictured. (10,000 - 12,000)

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321. Pair of canvasbacks, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 1987. Both are 16.25” long. Very good and original. (650 - 950) 322. Pair of redheads, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 1995. Both are 15.5” long. Very good and original. (650 - 950) 323. Rare pair of ring necks, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 1997. Both are 14.5” long. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

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324. Rigmate pair of greenwing teal, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Drake has stippling on back. Both have turned heads. Both are signed on undersides. 11” x 4.5” x 5.5”. Excellent and original. (800 - 1,000) 325. Pair of sleeping canvasbacks, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 1996. Hen is 15” long, drake is 14.5”. Original and good. (700 - 1,000) 326. Two decoys, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. A bluebill drake in preening position and a widgeon drake. Signed on underside. 13” x 6” x 7.5”. And a widgeon, 13” x 6” x 7.5”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)


327 Detail

327 327. Large Canada goose found in Dorchester County, Maryland, last quarter 19th century Raised neck seat, relief wing carving, and carved eyes. 25.5” long. Worn old paint; numerous cracks; age split in underside; shallow rough area on one lower side.

Literature: “Decoys of the Mid Atlantic Region,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 187, rigmate. (8,000 - 12,000)

161


Shorebirds

Life boat crew at Quogue, NY c. 1915

All researchers who have tried to elaborate on the life of the carver of these exquisite shorebirds have met with defeat. Originally identified as the work of Capt. Jess Birdsall by Bill Mackey, they are now conceded to be the effort of John Dilley of Quogue, Long Island, New York c. 1900. This attribution stems from the fact that an early box containing some of the carvings had that name written on it and many examples found in different parts of the country have that name written under the tail in the same handwriting(1). They are best described by Robert Shaw in “Call to the Sky”(2): “Whoever he was, Dilley had intimate and detailed knowledge of the complex and often confusing seasonal plumage phases of shorebird species. No other painter depicted as many different plumage phases, and no one else lavished such attention to detail. Dilley’s paint was applied layer upon layer in thin strokes with an extremely fine brush to create an extravagantly complex surface.” Ref: 1.French, Joe. “The Dilley Shorebirds – A Collectors’ Journey of Discovery”. Decoy Magazine, Jan/Feb 1994. 2.Shaw, Robert. 1992. “Call to the Sky – The Decoy Collection of James M. McCleery, MD”. Gulf Publishing Co. Houston, TX.

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328 Detail


328. Exceptionally finely painted black bellied plover, John Dilley, Quogue, Long Island, New York. “Black breast plover” was painted under the tail by the maker. Extra fine feather paint detail. 10.5” long. Near mint original paint; structurally excellent. Provenance: Colodny collection.

(20,000 - 25,000)

328 Detail

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330 Detail

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331

329. Peep, Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Raised “V” wingtip carving. 6.75” long. Original paint; minor wear; bill is an old replacement. (4,000 - 6,000) 330. Early curlew from Cobb Island, Virginia. Relief wing carving and carved eyes. Bill is splined through to back of head. Serifed initials “JK” are carved in the underside. 14.75” long. Original paint with moderate wear; hit by shot; chips missing form neck base; most of the bill is missing. (2,500 - 3,500)

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331. Yellowlegs, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Relief wing carving and scratch loop feather paint. Balsa construction with hardwood bill. 11.5” long. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on bill and under the tail; tiny chip missing from one edge of tail.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Sam Dyke. Dyke collection stamp on underside. (2,500 - 3,500)


333

334

333. Black bellied plover, Frank Kellum, Babylon, New York. Relief wing carving and shoe button eyes. Very wide beetle head style. 11” long. Original paint with moderate wear; lightly hit by shot; head has been broken off and reattached a long time ago; very small chip missing from back of neck. (3,000 - 5,000) 334. Extremely rare curlew, Frank Kellum, Babylon, New York, last quarter 19th century. Quite large, 16.5” tip of tail to tip of bill. Body is over 4” wide. Shoe button eyes. Very hard to find with original intact bill. Original paint with minor wear; several thin cracks in body; filled age split in back and concave area on the back of head above where the bill is splined through appear to be from when the decoy was made. (7,000 - 9,000)

334 Detail

165


Obediah Verity

1813 - 1901 Seaford, Long Island, New York The Verity family is a large one with early roots centered around the area of Seaford, Long Island. The identity of the creator of these beautifully styled shorebirds remained a mystery until 1975 when a group of collectors showed them to ailing bayman Andrew “Grubie” Verity who instantly stated that they were the work of “Diah.” There were a number of “Obediahs,” but the creator of these classic shorebirds is believed to be the son of John Henry and Amy Verity. He was a working bayman all his life and carved decoys for his own use and probably supplied them to his neighbors as well. He is often credited with being solely responsible for the establishment of the “Seaford School of Carving.”(1) Ref: (1)Sieger, Timothy R. et al. 2010. “The Decoys of Long Island.” Long Island Decoy Collectors Association, Water Mill, New York.

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335. Feeding black bellied plover, Obediah Verity, Seaford, Long Island, New York. Strong wing and shoulder carving with extended belly. Head is positioned to be looking down in a feeding pose. 10” x 2.5” x 4.25”. A white wash has been taken down from most areas excluding the breast to reveal strong original paint with minor wear; black paint is old working; a few small shot scars; carrying hole drilled through tail area; rub at lower part of one wing. (30,000 - 35,000)

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336

336. Sandpiper, Obediah Verity, Seaford, Long Island, New York. Relief wing carving and carved eyes. Fine feather paint detail. 8” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small area on lower breast that has something spilled on it; hairline crack in one side. (8,000 - 12,000)

336 Detail

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337. Running yellowlegs, William Southard, Seaford, Long island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Carved eyes, relief wing carving. Small “x” carved under the tail. 12.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; bill is a professional replacement. (9,500 - 12,500)

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337 Detail

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338. Yellowlegs, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire. An earlier gunning bird with good paint detail and dark patina. 11.75” long. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; shot mark in top of head; lightly hit by shot on one side.

Provenance: Meyer collection.

Literature: “Nicely Carved and Finely Painted,” Jim Cullen. (4,500 - 6,500)

338

339. Black bellied plover, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire. Strong feather paint detail. 11” long. Original paint with very minor wear; lightly hit by shot; small area of discoloration behind stick hole, probably where a paper label was on the bird for a long time.

Literature: “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph. (4,000 - 6,000)

339

338 Detail 170

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339A Detail

339A

339A. Sandpiper, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts, circa 1910. Tack eye gunning model. 9� long. Original paint with virtually no wear; small chip missing form underside of tail; bill is a professional replacement.

Provenance: Colodny collection. (6,500 - 9,500)

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340. Set of 3 willets from Massachusetts, circa 1900. In a variety of poses. 12”, 12.5”, and 13” long. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally very good.

172

Provenance: Meyer collection. Formerly in the collection of John Delph. (12,000 - 15,000)


340 Detail

173


Elmer Crowell

1862 - 1952 East Harwich, Massachusetts 341. Early pre brand black duck, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts, circa 1900. Head is turned, carved wingtips that are crossed, and carved and fluted tail. Subtle feather carving and light shading on back. 16” x 6” x 7.5”. Original paint with some in painting and restoration to crack extending through back and breast and around neck seat. (4,000 - 6,000)

341

342. Black duck, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, 1st quarter 20th century. Hot branded with Crowell’s oval brand on underside. Painted crossed wingtips and subtle feathering on body. 17” x 6” x 7”. Strong original paint; crack in underside that extends partially under tail has been secured with a nail; a few tight cracks naturally occurring in the wood appear at the front of the breast. (3,000 - 5,000)

342

343. Black duck, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s oval brand is in the underside. Slightly lifted head. 17.5” long. Near mint original paint; area of one side has numerous small horizontal scratches that are under the paint, suggesting the paint may be a second coat by Crowell. (1,500 - 2,500)

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344

344. Canvasback drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp stamped twice in underside. Relief carved wingtips, carved tail, and slightly turned head. Shoulder carving behind neck running through back, to accentuate wing shape. 14.75” long. Excellent original paint. (8,000 - 10,000)

344 Detail

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344A Detail

344A

344A. Mallard drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in underside twice. Carved wings and fluted tail. Slightly turned head. Good feather paint detail. 17� long. Near mint original paint that has darkened with age; thin crack in underside.

176

Provenance: Given to the caretaker of Wye House Farms, Talbot County, Maryland years ago by the owners. (6,000 - 9,000)


344B Detail

344B

344B. Pintail drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Slightly turned head, carving to show edges of wings. Good feather paint detail. 17� long. Original paint that has darkened with age; very minor wear; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Given to the caretaker of Wye House Farms, Talbot County, Maryland years ago by the owners. (6,000 - 9,000) 177


Ben Pease

1866 - 1938 Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts Martha’s Vineyard is a large island located just south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and the Pease family roots run deep there. The name first appears in the records in 1647 when one John Pease acquired a large piece of property in the Mattakeeset area of Edgartown located on the eastern end of the island(5). Edgartown was to become a flourishing fishing port and, along with neighboring Nantucket, was active in the prosperous venture of whaling. With the collapse of that industry following the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania in about 1870, the island’s economy shifted to one centered primarily around the tourist trade. With the appearance of the Old Colony Railroad on the island in 1872, sea captains’ homes were now joined with summer properties for both the upper and middle classes.(7) Chappaquiddick is located on the eastern most portion of the Island. It is part of the town of Edgartown and it is here, on the family farm called Tom’s Neck, overlooking Nantucket Sound, that Benjamin Warren Pease was born. As a young man, he briefly left the island to serve as a cable car conductor in San Francisco but soon returned to his native home where he served as an apprentice to an Oak Bluffs carpenter. He married the former Annie Baird Currier in 1890 and the couple had two daughters. The family remained in Oak Bluffs for about fifteen years before moving back to Edgartown and Ben’s beloved “Chappy.” He led an active life as a builder, farmer, offshore fisherman, and fish buyer. He served his town for a number of years as Selectman and Assessor. In his obituary, it is stated that “he often said that he lived in the most beautiful place in the world and he felt fortunate to have been so privileged”(2,3). Well known Vineyard carvers Benjamin Smith and Keyes Chadwick were within a year of the same age as Benjamin Pease. In their early thirties, all three were living in Oak Bluffs and working as carpenters. In that trade, quality of workmanship is highly valued, and this is reflected in the decoys of the three men. Pease’s daughter remembers her father and Keyes Chadwick carving together, and it would be only logical that all three men knew each other, possibly hunted together, and were aware of each other’s work. It is known that Chadwick learned the art of carving from Smith, and it is suggested that Pease learned the craft from Chadwick. Each man went on to develop a style uniquely their own. Pease made very few decoys, and he is not known to have ever made decoys for sale. The bulk, if not all, of his finely styled and finished decoys were for his own use or were made as gifts. A chance discussion in Edgartown between Stanley Murphy, author of “Martha’s Vineyard Decoys,” and Manuel Swartz Roberts resulted in Roberts pulling a lone redhead decoy from the loft of his boat shop and positively identifying it as the work of Ben Pease. Were it not for this singular event, the identity of this extremely talented carver might never had been revealed. He was apparently very well-liked and respected on the Island. Unfortunately, in the few days between his death and burial, someone thought enough of his decoys to steal them.(2) Reference and excerpts from: 1. Burroughs, Polly. 1972. “Zeb – A Celebrated Schooner Life”. Chatham Press, Riverside CT. 2. Murphy, Stanley. 1978. “Martha’s Vineyard Decoys” David Godine Pub. Boston, MA 3. Vineyard Gazette. 1938. “Son of Chappaquiddick, Benjamin W. Pease dies” (obituary)

345 Detail 178


345 Detail

345. Very rare hollow carved black duck, Ben Pease, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, 1st quarter 20th century. Fine feather paint detail. Raised neck seat and tack eyes. 17.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; several paint rubs on body.

Literature: Martha’s Vineyard Decoys,” Stanley Murphy. “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph. (22,000 - 25,000)

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346.

Merganser hen from Newburyport, Massachusetts, circa 1900. “IB” stamped in underside. 17.25” long. Appealing old paint appears to be second coat; crack through neck; small dents. (1,000 - 1,400)

347. Working loon, Albert Orne. Hollowed out from the underside. 18.5” x 6” x 9”. Appealing old in use reapint; small cracks in neck; crack in back; small dents. (1,000 - 1,400) 348. Stick up gull from Maine, circa 1940s. 18.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; hairline crack in head. (400 - 600) 180

349. Very rare balsa body scoter, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut. 14.5” long. Old in use repaint; small dents in balsa; eyes are missing. (350 - 450) 350. Pair of cast iron wing ducks from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. 14” and 14.5” long. Paint is missing from surface other than very old touchup to white areas of wings. (1,200 - 1,500)


351

351A

352

351. Monhegan Island style scoter, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine. Inlet head, carved eyes, and relief wing carving. 18.5” long. A mix of original paint and old touchup; chip missing from one side of tail; dent in one wingtip; small cracks. (950 - 1,250) 351A. Cork body black duck, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s oval brand is in the underside of the bottom board. Slightly lifted head. Branded “F Winthrop”. 16.25” long. Original paint with minor wear on the wooden areas; moderate wear to the cork. (1,250 - 1,750) 352. Surf scoter, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut. Cork body with slightly turned cedar head. Good bill carving detail and ice dip behind head. 15.5” long. Original paint; very slight wear on body; minor wear on head; structurally excellent.

Literature: “Shang,” Dixon Merkt, and “Connecticut Decoys,” Henry Chitwood. (6,000 - 9,000)

352 Detail 181


Joseph Lincoln

1859 - 1938 Accord, Massachusetts

353 Detail

353

353. Rare widgeon hen, Joseph Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts, 1st quarter 20th century. Fine feather paint detail. 16” long. Original paint with minor wear; worn areas on bottom edge and underside; fairly large check in underside; small dents; small areas of old working repaint around wing patches.

Literature: “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph. “Joseph Lincoln,” Cap Vinal. (6,500 - 9,500) 182


354 Detail

354

354. Classic brant, Joseph Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts. Good form with slightly lifted head. 19.5” long. Original paint with good detail and minor wear; very small chip on one edge of tail; cracks in underside; worn area at front of neck seam and lower breast; several small dents. (12,000 - 15,000)

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Nathan Cobb, Jr.

1825 - 1905 Cobb Island, Virginia

At one time, the abundance and variety of waterfowl on and near Cobb Island provided for the highly successful market and sport hunting. The decoys were of rugged construction consistent with the severe conditions that often plagued Cobb Island over the years. Nathan Jr. produced ducks, geese, and shorebirds in a multitude of poses which created a sense of movement and realism to the rig. Curved and twisted necks with cantered heads, notched tails are but a few of the characteristics which set Cobb decoys apart from other Virginia makers and established the tremendous folk art appeal that attracts collectors today.

355 Detail

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355. Hollow carved brant, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia. Large serifed “N” in underside. Slightly turned head. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Old Richard Bourne auction tag attached to underside. 18” long. Appealing old in use repaint; worn to the wood in many places; cracks in upper breast. Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (22,500 - 27,500)

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355 Detail

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356. Merganser drake, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. 15.5” long. Original paint that has darkened with age; minor wear; small cracks and dents; slight roughness to crest. (800 - 1,200) 357.

Large bluebill drake, Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Raised “V” wingtip carving. 16.5” long. Worn old paint; cracks in neck; and underside of body. (1,250 - 1,750)

358. Bluebill drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Very round “football” body style with fluted tail. Scratch feather paint detail. 13.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; tiny spot of touchup on front of head; small areas of inpainting on back and sides; small area of working touchup on one side below speculum; hairline crack through neck. (1,750 - 2,250) 186

359. Bufflehead drake, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. 12” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; thin cracks in tail.

Provenance: Private Southern collection. Formerly in the collection of Roy Bull. Bull collection brand in underside. (1,000 - 1,400)

360. Hooded merganser drake, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. Solid crest style. 13” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (1,200 - 1,500)

361. Canvasback drake, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. 16.5” long. Near mint original paint; structurally very good. (900 - 1,200)


362 Detail

362

362. Hollow carved black duck, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia. Deeply carved serifed “N” in underside. Inlet head in resting pose. Shoe button eyes. Raised “V” wingtip carving with slight ridge down back. 15.75” long. Appealing old in use repaint; slight separation at a knot in one side; a few small dents; crack through neck.

Provenance: Meyer collection. (12,000 - 15,000)

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Decoratives

363 363. Three carved flying teal mounted on hardwood backboard, Josh Brewer. Signed. Backboard is approximately 48” long. Fine feather carving and paint detail. Reglued crack in center bird’s wing, otherwise very good and original. (5,000 - 7,000)

364. Full size flying dove, Josh Brewer. Signed. Good carving detail. Mounted on beveled hardwood plaque. 17.5” x 10” x 6”. Very good and original. (1,250 - 1,750)

364

188


365. Well executed pintail pair, Al Glassford, Ontario. Drake is signed “Second place puddle duck division 1971 Canadian National Decoy Contest, Toronto, Ontario” and signed by maker. Drake has highly detailed comb painting on back, detailed feather and wingtip carving, and inserted sprig. Hen has detailed feather wingtip carving and is hollow. Drake is 23” x 7” x 8”. (2,000 - 3,000)

365 366. Pair of canvasbacks, John Zachman, Detroit, Michigan. Underside of hen reads “1st place canvasback class, Midwest Decoy Contest, Pointe Mouille, Michigan 1970”. Signed “Zachman”. Sticker reads “A custom made decoy from the work bench of John Zachman.” Comb painting on back of drake. Both have carved wings and tail. Drake measures 15” x 7.5” x 8”. Excellent and original. (1,800 - 2,200)

366

367. Pair of old squaw, John Garton, Smiths Falls, Ontario. Signed and dated 1974. Both have slightly turned heads and detailed relief wing carving. Hen is 14.75” long, drake is 19”. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250)

367 368.

Pair of bluewing teal, John Garton, Smiths Falls, Ontario. Signed and dated 1972. Fine paint and carving detail. Hen is 16” long, drake is 13.5”. Minor flaking on underside of drake, otherwise very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250)

368 189


Shang Wheeler

1872 - 1949 Stratford, Connecticut

Shang Wheeler at his work desk

369

190


369. Pair of decorative wood ducks, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut. Both have raised extended wingtips. Hen has slightly turned head. Drake is in preening pose. Hen is 14.75” long, drake is 14” long. Near mint original paint with good detail, protected by their original coat of varnish; drake has small scuff on one lower side.

Literature: “Shang,” Dixon Merkt.

(35,000 - 45,000)

369 Detail

369 Detail

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370

371

372

373

374

375

370. Wood duck drake, Joseph Wooster. Signed and dated 1975. Good carving detail with carved, crossed wingtips. 13.50” long. Excellent and original. (1,500 - 2,000) 371. Widgeon drake, John McLoughlin, Bordentown, New Jersey. Signed. Slightly turned head. Carved crossed wingtips. 14.5” long. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,500) 372. Swimming merganser drake, Jimmie Vizier, Galliano, Louisiana. Dated 4/10/06. Carved crossed wingtips and carved crest. 20.75” long. Excellent and original. (1,000 - 1,400) 373. Canada goose decoy, Ken Gleason, Stratford, Connecticut. Signed. Also marked, “1st Babylon Long 192

Island, 1st Salisbury.” Turned head. Detailed feather carving with extended wingtips and fluted tail. Good feather paint detail. 24.75” long. Excellent and original. Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,500 - 2,500)

374.

Full size standing grouse, Mark Holland, West Brewster, Massachusetts. Signed. Approximately 14” tall. Detailed feather carving. Several small cracks in gesso thighs, otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

375.

Eider drake, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Branded and signed and dated 1995. Raised primaries and secondaries. Carved for Artie Dibiase. 17” long. Very good and original. (1,500 - 2,000)

(2,500 - 3,500)


376. Very rare and possibly unique guillemot, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine, circa 1920. Carved wing outlines with slight tail separation. Wooden feet are attached to small gray wooden base. 12” x 4” x 8.5”. Original paint shows good age; crazing over white wing patch and other small areas; tip of bill has been blunted slightly; a few small scratches and rubs. Provenance: Megargee collection. (3,000 - 4,000)

376

377

378

377. Standing full size grosbeak, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine. Relief wing carving and carved eyes. 10” long. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,400) 378. 1/2 size flying black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Scratch loop feather paint and notched tail. 10” long x 13” wide. Original paint with very minor wear; some of the filler where the wings join the body has been replaced and touched up. (1,250 - 1,750)

379

379. Full size standing barrows goldeneye, William Gibian, Onancock, Virginia. Carved crossed wigntips carved primaries, and detialed tail feather carving. Slighty turned head. Signed on underside of body. 14.25” tall. Excellent and original. (2,000 - 3,000)

193


William Bowman

1824 - 1906 Lawrence, Long Island, New York

Lawrence

380. Classic greater yellowlegs in slightly resting pose, William Bowman, Lawrence, Long Island, New York. Believed by some to have been carved by C.S. Bunn. Relief wing carving with extended tips. Slight thigh carving. Shoe button eyes. 12.25” long. Original paint with very minor wear; professional repair to a small crack in one side of neck with touchup to the crack and a small area on the back of the head where a tiny nail was added; lightly hit by very small bird shot.

381. Very rare golden plover, William Bowman, Lawrence, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Believed by some to have been carved by C.S. Bunn. Relief wing carving with extended wingtips. Shoe button eyes. 10” long. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; two tiny shot marks in one side.

Literature: “Great Book of Decoys,” Joe Engers, editor, p. 99. (25,000 - 35,000)

Provenance: Meyer collection.

Literature: “Great Book of Decoys,” Joe Engers, editor, p. 99. (35,000 - 45,000)

380 Detail 194

380 Detail


Langdon’s Fishing Station, Lawrence, L.I. c1908

380

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381 Detail

381 Detail 195


382

383

384

382 Detail

382. Large curlew with iron bill from Cape May, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Approximately 16.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; lightly hit by shot; small piece missing from one edge of tail where a knot fell out.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of William J. Mackey. Mackey collection stamp on underside. (3,000 - 4,000)

383. Feeding yellowlegs, Everett Carter, Southampton, Long Island, last quarter 19th century. Relief wing carving with extended wingtips. Shoe button eyes. 13”

196

383 Detail

long. Original paint with minor wear; bill is an old replacement; eyes were missing and professionally replaced by Russ Allen; slight roughness to one wingtip; small amount of touchup on one side of neck. (2,500 - 3,500) 384. Yellowlegs, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, circa 1900. “Yellowlegs H Shourds, Tuckerton New Jersey” is written on underside of tail. 10” x 2” x 5”. Area of paint crazing on back from center through tail area; a few tiny paint chips; otherwise original and good.

Provenance: Megargee collection.

(2,500 - 3,500)


Ira Hudson

1876 - 1949 Chincoteague, Virginia 385 Detail

385

385. Exceptionally well carved dowitcher in spring plumage, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Fine form with raised “V” wingtip carving. 7.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; very lightly hit by shot; short thin crack at back of head; small amount of wear to wood at wingtips.

Provenance: John D. Showell estate. This decoy, along with others, came from a farm in Taylorsville, Maryland that Showell and his business partner bought in the early 1970s.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein Jr. (14,000 - 18,000) 197


386

388

387

389

386. Yellowlegs from Assateague Island, last quarter 19th century. Raised “V” wingtip carving. 11” long. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration and wear; a few small dents and shot marks. (2,000 - 3,000) 387. Curlew, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. 13” long. Original paint that has crazed and flaked on the body; bill is a later replacement.

Provenance: Megargee collection. Gift from William Ber ry. (2,000 - 2,500)

390

388. Black bellied plover, Ezra Hankins, Point Pleasant, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Relief wing carving. 10” long. Worn original paint on most of the decoy; black areas have been repainted; bill is a professional replacement. (950 - 1,250) 389. Curlew from the Tuckerton area of New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. 10.25” long. Original paint protected by an old coat of varnish; bill is a professional replacement; small dents; minor roughness to edge of tail. (1,000 - 1,400) 390. Robin snipe from the Tuckerton area of New Jersey. 8.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; bill is a professional replacement. (1,000 - 1,400)

198


Charles Clark was a hunter and waterman who lived on Chincoteague Island known for his curlew, plover, yellowlegs, and merganser decoys. His notable shorebirds feature disproportionately small knobby heads atop skinny necks and a definite ridge running down the back to the tail. Clark’s paint patterns are highly stylized.

390A

390A. Curlew, Charles Clark, Chincoteague, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. “M” is carved next the stick hole. 15” long. Original paint with minor wear; professional touchup to bill; old repair to a crack in the head; structurally good.

Provenance: Fleckenstein.

“Southern Decoys,” Henry (7,500 - 9,500)

390A Detail 199


Until 1974, extremely little was know about the carver of a very small yet beautifully carved group of shorebirds, initially discovered in Duxbury by early collector and antique dealer Winsor White. Dr. George Ross Starr acquired one of these delightful decoys from White and it is pictured on page 70 of his book “Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway.” In that reference, Starr simply states that a man named “Parker Hall from Massachusetts” was the carver and that “the beetlehead (plover) appeared to be wearing a pillbox hat and the tail, paint, and positioning of the bird brought the whole design into harmony” (2). In 2016, Gigi Hopkins brought to light much new information about the carver in her “Massachusetts Masterpieces – The Decoy as Art.” Ms. Hopkins found that Parker Hall grew up in Marshfield, about four miles from Duxbury. His parents were George H. Hall and Ardelia Ripley Hall. His father was a successful ship captain, and Parker followed his father in a life at sea. At various times, he owned and captained seventeen different coasting schooners plying the New England waters. One can imagine him carrying various freights to ports from northern Maine to New York harbor. His last vessel was the very well known “Alice C. Wentworth.” His skill as a helmsman and sailor was legendary. He was nearly killed by one of his own crew in 1894. He was acquitted of then murdering the man (in self defense) and, from that point on, he sailed his vessels single handed. He married Katherine Sheridan Boyle in 1904, and she did accompany him on a number of voyages. The couple divorced in 1922, and Parker spent his later years on a farm in Penobscot Bay, Maine. When he returned to Duxbury for the last time, he had but two weeks to live. In that time, he had his own headstone cut and picked out his burial plot in the town’s Mayflower Cemetery. At the time of his death he was living with his brother in Duxbury. Spending so much time at sea, one can only assume that the captain had limited time to hunt yet a significant amount of time to carve and paint. His birds reflect a very high level of workmanship indicative of the Captain’s reputation as a perfectionist and fine woodworker. He undoubtedly produced birds solely for his own use since only a mere handful of these wonderful carvings are known to have survived (1).

References and excerpts from: 1.Hopkins, Gwladys. 2016. “Massachusetts Masterpieces – The Decoy As Art”. Massachusetts Audubon Society. 2.Starr, George Ross MD. 1974. “Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway”. Winchester Press.

391

391 Detail

391. Very rare golden plover, Parker Hall, South Shore of Massachusetts. Raised wingtip carving, and carrying hole through tail. 9.25” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good; small shot mark in one side of head; small hole next to stick hole in underside.

200

Literature: “Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway,” George Ross Starr. (4,000 - 6,000)


392

392.

Early curlew from Nantucket. Two piece body construction. 14.75” long. Original paint with minor flaking and wear; structurally good. (2,500 - 3,500)

393. Early golden plover in alert pose, Nantucket, Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. 9” long. Original paint; good patina and minor wear; structurally very good. (2,000 - 3,000)

393 201


394

394.

394 Detail

202

Rare curlew John Dilley, Quogue, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Relief wing carving. Shoe button eyes. 13.5” long. Original paint with significant wear; several small dents; bill is an old replacement. (6,000 - 9,000)


395

395. Dowitcher in winter plumage, John Dilley, Quogue, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Fine paint detail including under the tail. Professional bill replacement; thin crack in top of head. 9.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; bill appears to be a professional replacement; small area of discoloration on the underside right in front of the stick hole.

Provenance: Meyer collection. (7,500 - 10,000)

395 Detail

203


Ward Brothers

Crisfield, Maryland 396. 1932 model redhead drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 15.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear on much of the decoy; the red on head has been repainted; lightly hit by shot. (4,000 - 6,000)

396

397. Rare pinch breasted bluebill drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1930. Slightly turned head. 14.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; bill appears to be an old second coat; several small dents and shot marks. (4,000 - 6,000)

397

396 Detail

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397 Detail


398. Widgeon drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1930s. Fairly thin body. Slightly turned head. Fine feather paint detail. 15.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; hollow spot in wood on underside. (4,000 - 6,000)

398

399. Well sculpted Canada goose, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. “V” wingtip carving. Slightly turned head with ice groove behind neck. 24” x 12.25”. Worn original paint on back, the rest has old in use repaint; numerous small cracks; age split in underside; small rough area to wood on one lower edge.

Literature: “Ward Brothers Decoys,” Brian McGrath and Ron Gard. (3,500 - 5,500)

399

398 Detail

399 Detail 205


400. 1932 model goldeneye drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Turned and slightly cocked head. 15.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; thin crack through neck; hairline crack partway down back and underside; slight wear to the wood at edges of bill. (25,000 - 30,000)

400

206


400 Detail

400 Detail

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401

401 Detail 401. 1936 model mallard drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. 17.5� long. Original paint; minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents; crack in underside.

208

Provenance: From the White Mallard Club, near Calusa, California. (6,000 - 9,000)


402. Canvasback drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. From the Glenn L. Martin rig, circa 1932. Branded “GLM” in the underside. Slightly turned head. Small separation at neck seam. 16.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear.

Provenance: Old tag on underside reads the decoy was given to Durward Allen by Joseph P. Linduska, 1965. (12,000 - 15,000)

402 Detail

402

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403. Shooting stool model merganser hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated “1966 for Norris E Pratt”. Slightly turned head. 15.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Old Richard Bourne auction tag is stapled to the underside. (2,000 - 3,000)

403 404. 1929 model bluebill hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Turned head and flared bill. “LT Ward & Bro” stamp in underside. 15.25” long. Old in use repaint; cracks through neck; small cracks in breast and tail; jagged shot scar in back; lightly hit by shot.

404

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Roy Bull. Bull collection brand in underside. (1,200 - 1,500)

405. Pair of shooting stool model bluebills, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1972 under the tail; drake is very good and original. Hen is 14.25” long, drake is 15.25”. Hen has significant paint shrinkage on breast and small amount on back of head; drake is good. (2,000 - 3,000)

405 406. 1948 model mallard drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Balsa body with slightly turned cedar head and inserted cedar tail. 16.25” long. Original paint; minor wear; numerous small dents in balsa. (2,000 - 3,000)

406 210


407. Rigmate pair of pintails, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 models with slightly turned cedar heads, balsa bodies, and inserted cedar tails. Both approximately 17” long. Original paint with minor to moderate wear on hen; minor wear on drake; numerous small dents in bodies; hen has an area of one side that is worn slightly into the wood. (2,750 - 3,250)

407

408. Pair of canvasbacks, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 models with slightly turned cedar heads, and inserted cedar tails. Both 16.5” long. Original paint; with minor wear; numerous small dents; both have had the undersides repainted a long time ago. (2,750 - 3,250)

408

409. Pair of shooting stool model canvasbacks, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1973 Both have turned heads. Both approximately 16” long. Very good and original. (3,500 - 5,500)

409

211


Lem and Steve Ward examining the merits of one of their geese

410 Detail

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410. Exceptionally well painted Canada goose, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned and lifted head. Fine feather paint detail. 24.75” long. Original paint with very minor wear on most of the decoy; moderate wear under the tail; bottom board is a professional replacement; thin crack through neck.

Provenance: One of three found years ago in North Carolina. (17,500 - 22,500)

410

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411

411. 1936 model greenwing teal drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. 12” long. Near mint original paint; tip of tail has been very slight blunted; professional bill replacement; underside has been planed so the decoy could be signed. (5,000 - 8,000)

411 Detail

214


412

412. 1936 model greenwing teal hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. 11.75” long. Near mint original paint; decoy was never rigged; small spot of sap has lifted the paint slightly at a knot in one side; professional bill replacement; touchup on part of the breast. (5,000 - 8,000)

412 Detail 215


Delaware River

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416

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418

413. Bluebill drake, Dan English, Bordentown, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 14.25” long. Old in use repaint; a few tiny dents. (500 - 800) 414. Bluebill drake, Dan English, Bordentown, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 13.75” long. Appealing old in use repaint; structurally good.

Provenance: Bokelman estate.

(600 - 900)

415. Goldeneye drake, Dan English, Bordentown, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 13.5” long. Old in use repaint; thin crack in back.

Provenance: Bokelman estate.

(650 - 950)

416. Canada goose, Clark Madera, Pitman, New Jersey, circa 1900. 23.25” long. Appealing old in use repaint; minor roughness to one edge of bill.

216

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (650 - 950)

417. Goldeneye hen, John English, Florence, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. 13.5” long. Old in use repaint; structurally good. Provenance: Bokelman estate. Formerly in collection of Bob White. Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight. (800 - 1,200) 418. Canvasback drake, Jack English, Florence, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. From the Appleton rig, Appleton tag on underside. Hen 15.25” long, drake 17”. Appealing old in use repaint; two small shot marks in one side.

Provenance: Bokelman estate. Formerly in the collection of William J. Mackey, Mackey collection stamp on underside. (900 - 1,200)


Joe Morgan

Tullytown, Pennsylvania

419

419 Detail

419 Detail 419. Very rare pair of pintails, Joe Morgan, Tullytown, Pennsylvania. Raised carved wingtips. Hen is 15.25”, drake is 17”. Original paint with very slight wear; drake has a thin neck crack repair; hen has professional touchup to small paint flake.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Dave Campbell. Stamped “DSC” in underside.

Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight.

(12,000 - 15,000) 217


420

421

420. Well carved black duck, William Quinn, Yardley, Pennsylvania. Raised “V” wing carving. Abstract feather carving on back and fluted tail. “W. Quinn Yardley, Pa.” is painted by the weight. Subtle feather paint detail. 16.75” long. Original paint with slight wear; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Dave Campbell. “DSC” stamp in underside.

Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight. (2,500 - 3,500)

218

421.

Rigmate pair of canvasbacks, Jess Heisler, Bordentown, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Detailed tail feather carving. Both 14.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of David Campbell, “DSC” stamp in undersides. Formerly in the Jack Conover collection, Conover collection ink stamp on undersides.

Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight. (4,000 - 6,000)


422. Canada goose, Clark Madera, Pitman, New Jersey. Subtle feather paint detail. 23.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; thin crack through neck and bill; small shot mark in back of head.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Dave Campbell. “DSC” stamped in underside.

Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight. (10,000 - 14,000)

422 Detail

422

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New Jersey 423. Rigmate pair of bluebills, Rhodes Truex, Absecon, New Jersey. Dry original paint. Detailed sponge painting on back of drake. Each measures 16” x 6” x 7.5”. A few small rubs; hen has small paint spatter on one wing patch. (2,000 - 2,500)

423 424. Bluebill drake, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Branded “HW Godfrey” twice in underside. Hen 15” long, drake 16.25”. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; shallow chip missing from center of back; slight separations at body seam. (2,000 - 2,500)

424 425. Rigmate pair of goldeneye, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Hen 14” long, drake 14.25”. A mix of original paint with moderate wear and overpaint; black areas on drake are repainted; old overpaint has been taken off of most of the white areas of both birds; minor discoloration; lightly hit by shot. (1,750 - 2,250)

425 426. Goldeneye hen, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Branded “A Powell”. 14” long. Original paint with moderate discoloration and wear; thin crack through neck; slight separation at one body seam; shallow chip on underside near weight; some of the white paint appears to be a second coat; professional touchup on various parts of the head.

426 220

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of William J. Mackey. Mackey collection stamp on underside. (1,750 - 2,250)


427 Detail

427. Very rare Canada goose, Henry Grant, Barnegat, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. “1232” is stamped in the underside. 24.5” long. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on underside; thin crack through neck; a couple of tiny dents.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

Literature: “Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys,” Joe Engers, editor, p. 115, exact decoy pictured. (6,000 - 9,000)

427

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Rowley Horner

1881 - 1942 West Creek, New Jersey It’s no coincidence that Horner’s decoys are similar in style to those made by HV Shourds. Shourds was, in fact, a neighbor, and it is said that young Rowley would visit Shourds’ shop on a regular basis. Learning to make decoys in the “Tuckerton style,” Horner would go on to perfect both his carving and painting, which would eventually earn him the reputation of making the finest decoys on the New Jersey coastline. His decoy-making career spanned approximately 40 years, but the majority was made from the turn of the century until about 1930.

428

428. Classic Canada goose, Rowley Horner, West Creek, New Jersey. His earlier style. “E.D. Townsend” is stamped in the weight. Nicely blended feather paint on back. 24.5” long. Original paint with good patina and a few small scuffs; professional repair to a tight crack in the bill and in the neck. Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, Jr.

222

(9,500 - 12,500)


428 Detail

428 Detail

223


429. Flying brant, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 24” long x 28” wide. A combination of original paint and very appealing old in use repaint; structurally good. (2,000 - 3,000)

429 430. Black duck, Rowley Horner, West Creek, New Jersey. 16.75” long. Original paint on light areas of head and bill; the rest is old in use repaint; structurally good. (1,250 - 1,750)

430 431. Goldeneye drake, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 13/75” long. Worn original paint; short thin cracks in breast. Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, Jr. (1,250 - 1,750)

431 431A. Bluebill hen, Eugene Birdsall, Barnegat, New Jersey, circa 1900. 13.25” long. Original paint, minor wear; a few tiny dents. (1,500 - 2,000)

431A 224


432. Very rare black duck, Lloyd Parker, Parkertown, New Jersey. Ice dip carved behind shoulders. Writing on bottom indicates purchased in 1965 from Fred Noyes. 16” x 5.5” x 6.25”. Strong original paint with scratch feathering on back; numerous areas on body where paint has flaked off to expose primer, especially around the tail; structurally good.

Provenance: Megargee collection. (1,500 - 2,000)

432

433. Bluebill hen, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. 14.25” long. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; white areas have old repaint; a few tiny dents. (1,500 - 2,500)

433 434. Brant, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 17” x 6” x 8”. Original paint on side, stripes, brown on back and black; white on underside has been strengthened; possible restoration to tip of bill.

Provenance: Megargee collection. (1,500 - 2,000)

434

435. Black duck, Ellis Parker, Parker-town, New Jersey. 16.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; professional touchup to speculums; a few small dents. (1,500 - 2,500)

435 225


436

437

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440

441

436. Red breasted merganser drake, Bradford Salmon, Absecon, New Jersey, circa 1900. Harry Megargee always believed this to be made by Rowley Horner. Carved crest, similar to H.V. Shourds. 16” x 5” x 5.5”. Paint on head and some of body appear to be original; other areas mostly on white, have been strengthened; old neck repairs; areas of flaking and discoloration.

Provenance: Megargee collection. Acquired directly from William Mackey. (800 - 1,200)

437. Black duck, Rhodes Truex, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Highly detailed scratch painting over entire top half of body. Carved eyes. 16” x 6” x 6.5”. Strong original paint; a few rubs and scratches; chip out of tail appears to have been reglued. Provenance: Megargee collection. Acquired from Somers Headley. (800 - 1,200) 438. Bluebill drake from the Furlow rig. Branded “John Furlow” and “JAH” for John Hillman. 15” long. Original paint with minor flaking and wear; structurally good. (650 - 950) 226

442 439. Canada goose, Harry Boice, Absecon, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. 22.75” long. Paint has been restored; numerous small cracks in body; filler has fallen out above some of the nails joining the body halves; two shot scars. (650 - 950) 440. Canada goose, Eugene Hendrickson, Northfield, New Jersey, circa 1920s. 24.75” long. Original paint with moderate wear on most of the decoy; a few small spots of touchup; a few small dents. (500 - 800) 441. Old squaw drake, Harry Boice, Atlantic City, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. 13.5” long. Old in use repaint; small tail chips missing.

Literature: Tag on underside states that this decoy is pictured in “New Jersey Decoys,” by Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (400 - 600)

442. Brant, Harry Fennimore, Bordentown, New Jersey. Raised “V” wingtip carving. 18.25” long. Original paint with minor wear; thin crack through neck. (400 - 600)


443. Canada goose, Rowley Horner, West Creek, New Jersey, 2nd quarter 20th century. 23.5” long. Old repaint with shrinkage, mostly on the back; structurally good. (900 - 1,200)

443

444. Canada goose, John McAnney, New Gretna, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 24.25” long x 19.75” tall. Appealing old in use repaint; moderate flaking and wear; structurally good; some paint on back and sides appear to be original.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. (950 - 1,250)

444

445. Black duck, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. 16” x 5” x 6”. Strong original paint; underneath a light coat of brown wash that covers most of the dark brown areas on the body and head; a few small rubs; slight separation at body seam.

Provenance: Megargee collection. (1,200 - 1,700)

445 446. Rare rigmate pair of mergansers, Lou Barkelow. Both have carved fanned crests. Both have “AJ” carved in underside. Both measure 16” x 5.5” x 6.5”. Both in very old working repaint.

Provenance: Megargee collection. Acquired at a Bourne auction in 1988. (1,200 - 1,500)

446 227


Midwest

447

448

447. Rigmate pair of mallards, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Each has “O.T.” painted on the underside for Orval Thompson, who was a member at the Princeton Game and Fish Club. He had Perdew make these decoys for him in the mid 1940s. Both are approximately 14” x 5.5” x 7”. Both are in original paint by Charles Perdew protected by a light coat of varnish; drake has crack at neck and areas where lighter blue primer is showing; rub at tip of bill; hen is structurally good with primer showing through at rub areas, mostly on body and around edge of bill; scratch in top of back. (3,500 - 4,500) 228

448. Pair of mallards, Bernard Ohnmacht, Lafayette, Indiana, circa 1930. Classic style with cork bodies coated in a very strong surface as with all of his hunting rig. Branded “JBM” and US patent on underside. Heads swivel with mechanism extending to the line tie. Each 15” x 5” x 9”. Strong original paint protected by a coat of varnish; paint loss at neck seam of drake, small rub on back. (4,000 - 6,000)


449

449.

Bluewing teal hen, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois, circa 1940. Slightly turned head that has a bit of a downward angle. Painted by Charlie with fine attention to feather detail and wet on wet blending. This rig of teal was made around 1945 for Edison Gray to be used at his personal duck club in Illinois. Gray had about two dozen decoys in total made by Perdew, consisting of mallards, bluewing teal, and greenwing teal. This hen ended up on the mantle for display in the clubhouse. 11” x 4.5” x 6”. Strong original paint with moderate wear; small rough area at one side of bill; a few small scratches; very light coat of varnish that has darkened slightly; small rough area at top of head. (8,000 - 12,000)

449 Detail 229


450. Hollow carved mallard drake, Hector Whittington, Oglesby, Illinois, circa 1930s. Thick combing and feather paint. 17.75” long. Original paint that has darkened with age; very little wear; small rough spot on one edge of bill. (1,200 - 1,500)

450

451

451. Pair of mallards, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Both retain Perdew weights. Both 16.5” long. Original paint with moderate wear; drake has a significant amount of touchup on the underside; hen has small amount of touchup on upper breast and part of head; numerous cracks in hen’s back and breast; several small rough spots on drake’s back; thin crack in drake’s tail; areas under tail have been strengthened with two small tin patches. (2,500 - 3,000) 452. Mallard hen and drake, Hector Whittington, Oglesby Illinois, circa 1930s. Both have slightly turned heads. Hen 18” long, drake 17.5”. Drake has minor wear; hen is near mint; structurally good. (2,000 - 3,000)

452 453. Bluewing teal hen, Robert Elliston, Bureau, Illinois, last quarter 19th century. Branded “SHAILER”. 11.75” long. Original paint with moderate wear; crack through neck; one eye is missing; minor roughness to one edge of tail; small rough spot on one edge of tip of bill; lightly hit by shot. (600 - 900)

453 230


454

454 Detail

454 Detail

454. Rare oversize mallard drake, Bert Graves, Peoria, Illinois. Paint by Catherine Elliston. Approximately 23” long. Good feather paint detail and comb paint. Original paint with very minor wear; a little shiny; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Meyer collection.

Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid.

(9,500 - 12,500)

231


Lloyd Sterling

Crisfield, Maryland

455 Detail

455

232


455. Pintail drake, Lloyd Sterling, Crisfield, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. Wide body, beaver tail style. Fine scratch painting on back. Head is slightly reared backwards, creating a snakey neck look. 20” x 7.5” x 9”. Strong original paint has crazed in some areas; putty is missing at top of head where nail was driven to secure to body; professional restoration to tight crack extending through back; additional restoration where tail was broken and then reset; small area of in painting on one side of bill; paint loss in several areas. (15,000 - 20,000)

233


456. Exceptional and very rare widgeon drake, Lloyd Sterling, Crisfield, Maryland. Fine scratch feather paint detail and slightly turned head. Wide body style with paddle tail. 19” x 7.5” x 7”. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; moderate wear on lower sides; an approximately 6” long crack in the back has been professionally filled and touched up; small cracks in breast and underside; several tiny dents. Literature: “The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys”, Joe Engers, Editor, p. 151. (15,000 - 20,000)

234


456

456 Detail

235


457

458

459

460

461

457. 1936 model pintail drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Turned head. 16.75” long. Worn old paint appears to be mostly original; crack through neck; short crack in one side. (900 - 1,200) 458. 1938 model black duck, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 18.25” long. Old repaint; numerous cracks; chip missing from top of head; wear to wood on underside. (950 - 1,250) 459. Full size bittern, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Balsa construction. On metal base. Carving is approximately 24” long. Original paint; very minor wear, mostly on edges of tail; a few smalls scrapes in one side; small area of discoloration on one side. (800 - 1,200)

236

460. Mallard drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1935 model with slightly turned head. “Repainted in 1952 by Lem Ward for Somers Headley,” inscribed on underside. 17.75” long. Tiny chip missing form tip of tail otherwise structurally good.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Somers Headley. “SGH” stamp in underside several times. (1,200 - 1,500)

461. Black duck, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 model with slightly turned cedar head and inserted cedar tail. 17.75” long. Original paint; minor wear; some of neck filler is missing; surface crack in one side of head. (1,000 - 1,400)


462

462. Pintail drake, Lloyd Sterling, Crisfield, Maryland. 19.75” long. Old repaint with minor to moderate wear; numerous cracks; one eye is missing. (3,000 - 4,000)

463. Lot of five mergansers in early basket from Hooper’s Island, Maryland. Decoys approximately 17” long. Old in use repaint; numerous cracks and splits; one of the bodies looks like it was turned on a lave. (1,200 - 1,500)

463

464. Pair of mergansers, Gunner Alvin Meekins, Hooper’s Island, Maryland. Both 17.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good. (600 - 900)

464 237


465

466

467

468

469

470

465. Goldeneye drake, from Crisfield, Maryland. Turned head. 14.75” long. Worn old paint appears to be original; numerous cracks; eyes are missing; roughness to top of head; chip missing from back of neck base. (500 - 800) 466. Early flat bottom style widgeon hen, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Signed and dated 1930 by Mitchell. 13.75” long. Original paint with minor flaking and wear; small cracks; thin crack through neck. Provenance: McCarthy collection.

(950 - 1,250)

467. Black duck, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1930s. 18.25” long. Worn old paint; numerous cracks; chips missing from neck base. (650 - 950)

238

468. Redhead drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 model with balsa body slightly turned cedar head and inserted cedar tail. 15.25” long. Old in use repaint appears to be by Madison Mitchell; small cracks at neck base; small dents in balsa. (600 - 800) 469. Rare Canada goose, James Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, last quarter 19th century. 21.5” long. Old in use repaint; numerous cracks and age splits. (650 - 950) 470. Canvasback drake, John Graham, Charlestown, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. 14” long. Old in use repaint; moderate flaking and wear; fairly large crack through neck; thinner vertical crack in back of neck. (600 - 900)


Contemporary

471

472

473

474

475

471. Pair of mergansers, William Southard/Cameron McIntyre, New Church, Virginia. Drake is a Southard body reheaded by McIntyre. Hen was made by McIntyre. Unsigned. Hen 16.75” long, drake 17.25” Worn old paint; cracks in bodies. (1,750 - 2,250) 472. Canvasback drake, Mark and Ian McNair. Signed by both, “For Eastern Shore DU, 2008.” 17.5” long. Very good and original. (750 - 1,000) 473. Scoter, Jim Schmiedlin Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Schmiedlin’s label on the side as well as a hunting story from 1981. Slightly lifted head. 18” long. Original paint on most of the decoy; approximately

15% of surface paint has flaked away and has been touched up; structurally good. (800 - 1,200) 474. Stylish yellowlegs carved in style similar to Elmer Crowell, William Gibian, Onancock, Virginia. Head is turned with the bird preening under lifted wing. Standing on clam shell. Shell is signed Gibian on underside. Highly detailed feather carving on both interior and exterior of lifted wing. 14.5” tall. Original paint; structurally excellent; 1/8” at tip of lifted wing may have been darkened. (700 - 900) 475. Black duck, Ian McNair. Slightly turned head. Two piece body construction. Signed. 18.5” long. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good. (600 - 900) 239


Miscellaneous Decoys

476

476. Root head heron from Long Island, New York, 1st quarter 20th century. Relief wing carving. Body is made from three pieces of wood that are fastened by 4 small wooden dowels. 28.5” long. Worn old paint appears to be original; drying crack in back of neck and head; minor roughness to tip of tail. (5,000 - 8,000)

476 Detail 240


477

477. Great grey heron found on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Wooden thighs and iron legs. Approximately 42” tall. Shows good age; weathered and worn with traces of paint; numerous small cracks; very small chip missing from center of back of neck; two small holes in back. (4,000 - 6,000)

477 Detail 241


477A

477B

477C

477D

477E 477A. Hollow carved swan, Charles R. Birdsall. Signed and dated 1975. Carved in the Havre de Grace tradition. 31.5” long x 19” tall. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration; structurally good. (800 - 1,200) 477B. Large swan, Bob Moreland. Approximately 39” long with wooden keel and stand. Original and good. (500 - 700) 477C. Tern, possibly Long Island, New York, unknown carver. Raised and split wingtips. Dowell through top of head. White wash has been applied over a natural wood finish. 11.25” long. Slight roughness at wingtips and tip of bill.

Provenance: Megargee collection. 242

(650 - 950)

477D. Crow with turned head, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. 15.75” long x 9.25” tall. Old paint with moderate wear; small cracks. (650 - 950) 477E. Set of 12 yellowlegs with 11 stakes, Strator and Sohier Factory, Boston, Massachusetts. In what appear to be original tin box marked “YL”. Box 12” x 8.75” x 3.5”. Decoys 11.5” long. Decoys very good, box fair. (1,250 - 1,750)


478

479

480

482

483

478. Two crows, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Both approximately 15.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; small amount of roughness and crack at end of one bill; slight separation at a body seam on the underside of one. Provenance: Barbra Johnson collection. One was formerly in the Joseph B. French collection. The other formerly from the King Hemingway collection. Literature: “North American Decoys Magazine,” article included. (1,250 - 1,750) 479. Pintail drake, Otto Garren, Canton, Illinois. Signed “O. Garren” on underside. 15.75” long. Unused; head has been broken off and reattached; small dent at back of neck.

Provenance: Consigned by a member of the Garren family. (800 - 1,200)

480. Four canvas over wire frame Canada geese, Calley O’Neal, Churches Island, North Carolina. Mixture of old in use repaint and original paint with moderate wear; a few small tears in canvas.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen. (1,000 - 1,400)

482. Two English wood pigeons with metal bills. 14” and 14.5” long. Original old paint; eyes are missing; thin cra cks. (400 - 600) 483.

Canvasback drake, Bert Graves, Peoria, Illinois. Retains Graves weight. 17” long. Original paint with some black overpaint on the white areas; also original paint on the black feathering on the back and head; old touchup on black areas of head and tail; structurally good. (600 - 800) 243


Items of Interest

484

484. Large fire screen triptych with upland game hunting scene, Reginald Bolles. Scenes are oil on board and approximately 54” x 21.5” each. All are original; very slight, and not very visible, paint shrinkage, mostly in sky. (4,500 - 6,500)

244


487

488

490

487. Early eel lure, probably from the Pacific Northwest, last quarter 19th century. Approximately 34” long. Hinged in the center and weighted. Iron tail fin. Original surface with good patina; a few small cracks. (1,250 - 1,750) 488. Unusual four legged foot stool with well executed relief carved perch. Stool is approximately 14” x 8”. Appears to be circa 1940. Original paint with very light wear. (400 - 600)

489

491

490. Four books. In original slip cases. “Bright Waters Bright Fish,” “American Sporting Print,” “Frank W. Benson Etchings Drypoints and Lithographs,” and “The Art of Ogden M Pleissner.” Very good. (400 - 600) 491. Carved tiger cat, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia. Large carved “C” in underside. Approximately 12” tall. Several small spots where sap has bled through the paint. (400 - 600)

489. Gunning light from the Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Wooden framing. Holder for lamp with mirror behind it. 17” tall. Fair. (400 - 600) 245


492. DuPont “Shoot Ballistite” poster, copyright 1915. 29.5” x 19.5”. Retains both metal bands; minor roughness to edges of paper. (3,500 - 4,500)

492

493 493. Set of four Laflin and Rand powder posters. Winter, spring, summer, and fall. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 12.5” x 7.5”. Very good and original. (1,250 - 1,750)

246


494

494. 49” long Old Town Canoe model, last quarter 19th century. Both sides have original Old Town Canoe label on bow. As well as the lettering “genuine Old Town Canoe Co canoes”. Fine detail with canvas over wooden frame. Wooden ribs and gunwale. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; two sets of three holes in ribs on one side for mounting brackets; one seat is missing; the seat that remains has damage to the caning. (6,000 - 9,000)

494 Detail 247


495

496

497

498

499

495. Winchester Repeating Shotguns advertisement, circa 1920s. Professionally framed. Image size approximately 31.5” x 16.5”. Both bands remain but have some pitting; condition of paper is very good. (800 - 1,200)

498. Wall display case for miniature carvings. Elaborate frame is circa 1900. Case behind is around 40 years old. Approximately 25” x 33”. Very good and original. (350 - 450)

496. “Dawn” an etching by Frank Benson. Paff #232 in an edition of 250. 1924. Signed in the margin by the artist. Professionally matted and framed. Image size 6 7/8 by 9 7/8”. Very good and original. (500 - 700)

499. Handmade wooden model of the Sultana, a colonial schooner out of Baltimore operating in the second half of the 18th century, Joseph Chatham. Model is approximately 19” tall and is in a Plexiglas case. Very fine detail. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,500)

497. Wooden carving of a mountain goat, Old School Willey. On wooden base. Goat is approximately 17” long. Original surface that has been crazed; structurally good. (400 - 600) 248


499B

499A 499C

499D

499D

499D

499A. Oil on canvas of bluebills, Daniel Loge. Signed. Image size 9” x 17”. Several barely visible drips of paint in lower right. (600 - 900)

499C. Oil on canvas of hunters in forest, Zunica. Signed. Image size 25” x 38”. Several spots where paint has flaked off near center; small worn area on right side. (650 - 950)

499B. Acrylic on board of ducks flying in to marsh, William Crockett. Signed and dated 1988. Image size 25” x 48”. Very good and original. (600 - 900)

499D. Three watercolors, Art Lemay. Signed. Bufflehead drake in oval frame, image size 18.5” x 12.5”. Chickadee, 23.5” x 4”. Canada goose, 16” x 19”. Very good and original. (750 - 1,000)

249


499E. Side by side flintlock muzzleloader shotgun, Jerome Blachon, St. Etienne, France, circa 1880. Name engraved on both lockplates. 36.25� long barrels made by the famous Merley Family of St. Etienne barrel makers. 5/8� bore. Gold filled engraving on barrels. Ornate fine carving detail as well as silverwork. Original baleen ramrod with bone tip. Small repair to one side of stock; short crack in front end of forestock, otherwise all original. (7,500 - 9,500)

499E

499E Detail 499E Detail

499E Detail 250

The Blachon Family of ten gunsmiths worked in St. Etienne from 1650 until 1850. While better known for military guns, the St. Etienne gunsmiths equaled Parisian gunsmiths in making high style hunting shotguns.


500

500. Ram weather vane, attributed to L.W. Cushing and Son, circa 1880. Approximately 28” long. Molded copper. Zinc head. Some verdegreed surface with professionally filled bullet holes.

Provenance: Paul Tudor Jones II collection. (6,000 - 9,000)

500 Detail

251


Bronzes

500A

500B

500D

500C

500A. Limited edition 6/15 bronze of wood cock, James Foote. Signed on base. 7.75” tall. (1,200 - 1,500) 500B. Limited edition bronze, William Schultz, 56/100. Greenwing teal on walnut base. 10” long.(800 - 1,200)

500C. Scaled quail bronze, John Scheeler. Limited edition 12/25. Signed. Good detail. Approximately 12” tall. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,500 - 2,000)

500D. “Pronghorn Magesty,” a bronze sculpture by Vince Valdez. Signed. Measures 23.5” Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,500)

252


Factory

500E

500F

500E Detail

500E. Yellowlegs with glass eyes, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. Detailed feather paint. 12” long. Near mint original paint; small paint flakes missing at “in factory” hairline crack in one side; very lightly hit by shot. (2,500 - 3,500) 500F. Black bellied plover, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1910. Tack eye model. Illegible signature on one lower side. 10.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear. (2,000 - 3,000)

253


501

503

501. Pair of widgeon, Wildfowler Decoy Factory, Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Both approximately 13.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents. (350 - 450) 502. Bluebill, Peterson Decoy Factory, last quarter 19th century. 14.75” long. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; neck filler has been replaced with touchup in that area; thin crack in back; lightly hit by shot. (350 - 450)

254

502

504

503. Three very rare folding tin shorebirds, Strator and Sohier, Boston, Massachusetts. Dowitcher, ruddy turnstone in spring plumage, and a sandpiper. Each is in a small showcase. Longest is 9.25”. Excellent original paint; structurally very good. (1,000 - 1,500) 504. Two sided owl decoy, Swisher & Soules. Metal with flocked finish. Mounted to wooden base for display. 17.75” tall. Flocked finish has darkened due to age, otherwise very good and original. (800 - 1,000)


505

506 505.

Rare Canada goose, Dodge Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, last quarter 19th century. 22” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear on most of the decoy; flaking along one lower side; most of filler where head joins neck is missing; an area where there is some shallow wear to wood in center of back approximately 1.5” x 3”; small dent.

Literature: “Detroit Decoy Dynasty,” Bill Dodge and Ken Sharp. (4,500 - 6,500)

506. Very rare rigmate pair of mallards, Benz Wood Products Company, Jefferson City, Missouri. Old Benz labels are on the undersides. Fine scratch and comb paint detail. Hen 16” long, drake 15.75”. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; moderate wear on hen’s head and breast as well as both necks; much of the neck filler is missing and replaced a long time ago; tiny chip missing from top of hen’s tail. (1,250 - 1,750)

505 Detail 255


Pacific Coast

507

508

509

510

511

507. Rigmate pair of early style mallards, Percy Bicknell, Richmond, British Columbia. Both decoys show whittle marks. Both 16.25” long. Original paint with moderate wear on the hen; drake has original paint with professional touchup on approximately 25% of the off white areas; structurally good.

Literature: “Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson. (600 - 900)

508. Pintail drake, Percy Bicknell, Richmond, British Columbia. His earlier style that shows whittle marks. 18.5” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small dents. Literature: “Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson. (750 - 1,000) 256

509. Pintail drake, Richard Janson, Sonoma Creek, California. 18.25” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; paint loss under the tail; a few small dents. (650 - 950) 510. Hollow carved brant from Sydney Inlet, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. 19” long. Original paint with minor wear; small dents.

Literature: “Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson, p. 21. (500 - 700)

511. Grey coot, Sam Esperson, Rio Vista, California. Red wood construction. 10.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; slight separation at neck seat; a few small dents. (350 - 450)


512. Rigmate pair of canvasbacks, Luigi Andreuccetti, Sacramento, California. Each has a large “LA” carved in the underside. Hen has a slightly turned head. Both have cork and wood bodies and wooden heads with tack eyes. Hen 12” long, drake 12.5”. Original and good. (1,250 - 1,750)

512 513. Pintail hen, Richard Janson, Sonoma Creek, California. 16.5” long. Original paint with very slight wear; minor wear on bill; two small areas of wood filler and paint have been added to side of head and neck. (1,000 - 1,500)

513 514. Pair of coots, Luigi Andreuccetti, Sacramento, California. Both have slightly turned heads. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Hen 10” long, drake 9.25”. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good. (1,000 - 1,500)

514 515. Redhead drake, William McClellan, Eureka, California. 14.5” long. Original paint; minor discoloration and wear; thin crack through neck base. (750 - 1,000)

515 257


Miniatures

516

517

518

519

516. Four 1/4 size geese, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed. A snow goose, a brant goose, a white fronted goose, and a red breasted goose. Snow goose is in sleeping pose. The others have slightly turned heads. All have carved crossed wingtips. Longest is 11” long. Excellent and original. (2,250 - 2,750) 517. Two 1/4 size swans, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. A black swan and a trumpeter swan. Signed and dated 2011 and 2010. Both have slightly turned heads and relief wing carving. 10” long. Excellent and original. (1,000 - 1,400) 258

518. 1/2 size redhead hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. Signed. Approximately 8” long. Paint shrinkage on head, minor paint shrinkage on part of breast; otherwise original and good. (800 - 1,200) 519. Five 1/4 size decoys, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia. Large “C” carved in underside. Approximately 7” long. Merganser drake’s bill has been broken off and reattached with small chip missing from top, otherwise very good and original. (400 - 600)


Decoratives

520

521

522

523

524

525

520. Bluewing teal drake, John McLoughlin, Bordentown, New Jersey. Signed. Slightly turned head. Detailed wing and feather tip carving with crossed wingtips. 12” long. Very good and original. (900 - 1,200)

523. Brant with relief wing carving, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1981. Slightly turned head. 17.75” long. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

521. Rigmate pair of mallards, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Both are carved in the 1936 Ward Brothers style and dated 2010. Both have slightly turned heads. Both 16” long. Very good and original. (1,300 - 1,600)

524. Pair of mergansers, Forest Jennings. Merganser 3rd place best of show, Chestertown, Maryland 1996. 1st place Harker’s Island, North Carolina, 1996. 1st place Havre de Grace, Maryland 1996. 1st place North East, Maryland 1996. Hen 16” long, drake 18.25”. (1,200 - 1,600)

522.

Black duck, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 2008. Slightly turned head with raised, carved secondaries and carved crossed primaries. 15.25” long. Excellent and original. (800 - 1,200)

525. Two shorebirds, Harold Haertel, Dundee, Illinois. A snowy plover and an Mongolian plover. Mongolian is signed and dated 1987 under the base. Fine feather carving detail on wingtips. Good paint detail. 5.75” and 5.25” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,200 - 1,600) 259


526

527

528

529

530

531

526. * Blue jay on piece of log with chipmunk, AJ Rudisill. Signed. Highly detailed feather carving. Approximately 17” tall. Very minor damage to feathers, otherwise good. (650 - 950)

529. Hollow carved widgeon drake, Ken Gleason, Stratford, Connecticut. Signed. Written on underside is “FirstBabylon 2nd-Salisbury”. Detailed feather carving. 14.75” long. Very good and original. (900 - 1,200)

527. * Two full size songbirds on rock carving, Brower. Approximatey 15” tall. Both birds have detailed feather carving with carved, crossed wingtips and turned heads. Very good and original. (400 - 600)

530. Carved shorebird, Del Herbert. Signed. Fine paint detail and slightly turned head. Blue ribbon winner in the 2001 Ward World carving championships smoothie shorebird category. 7” long. Excellent and original.

528. American merganser hen, Ken Gleason, Stratford, Connecticut. Hollow carved with slightly lifted head. Detailed feather carving. Inscription on underside reads “Second Salisbury honorable mention Babylon New York.” 20.75” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection. 260

(900 - 1,200)

Provenance: Watson collecction.

(800 - 1,200)

531. 1/2 size pintail drake, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. Good feather paint detail. 13.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; crack through neck; tip of tail blunted slightly.

Provenance: Whittington collection.

(500 - 800)


Delbert “Cigar” Daisey

532

532.

Exceptionally well carved pintail drake, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Hollow with head in lightly forward pose branded “Cigar” signed “Delbert Cigar Daisey 1974”. Good comb and feather paint detail. 20.75” long. Keel is missing, otherwise very good and original. (2,500 - 3,500)

532A. Pair of quail, James N. Denny. Blue ribbon winner 1973 world champions, 1st place decorative life size 2nd in show wildfowl carving competition Salisbury, Maryland. Hen has turned head and detailed tail feather carving. Signed. Branch 18.5” long x 9.75” tall. Excellent and original. (2,500 - 3,500)

532A 261


Contemporary Carvings

533

534

535

536

537

538

533. Two decoys, Allan Bell, Ontario. An eider drake and ringbill drake. Both are branded. Eider 18” long, ringbill 13.25”. Very good and original. (900 - 1,200) 534. Two decoys, Allan Bell, Ontario. Both are branded. A bufflehead hen and greenwing teal hen. Bufflehead 12.5” long, greenwing teal 11.5”. Teal hen has a little wear and shot mark on tail, otherwise very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 535. Two decoys, Allan Bell, Ontario. Brand is in the underside. Both have slightly turned heads. Mallard has carved tail sprig. Both approximately 5.25” long. A few small paint rubs, otherwise very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

262

536. Hollow carved Canada goose, Allan Bell, Ontario. Signed. Relief wingtip carving and slightly turned head. 22” long. Small black smudge on breast, otherwise very good and original. (500 - 800) 537. Ruddy turnstone and a tern, Alan Chaffee, Nantucket, Massachusetts. “Chaffee” carved in underside of each. Both have glass eyes and relief wing carving. Both approximately 10” long. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 538. Hooded merganser hen and drake, Corbin Reed, Chincoteague, Virginia. Stamped “C Reed” on underside. Hen has tucked feet. Detailed feather carving at wingtips and tails. Hen 15” long, drake 16”. Very good and original. (1,400 - 1,800)


539

540

541

542

543

544

539. Oversize preening merganser drake, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Carved wooden crest and relief wing carving. Approximately 18” long. Signed. Original paint that has been aged; minor roughness to top of tail. Literature: Decoy Magazine, March/April 1998 issue, p. 37, exact carving pictured. (400 - 600) 540. Song bird, Frank Finney, Cape Charles, Virginia. Serifed “F” carved under the base. 8” tall. Very good and original. (400 - 500) 541. Oversize mallard drake, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Signed and dated 1992. Hollow carved with slightly turned head. 17.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; several small dents and shot marks. (400 - 600)

542. Pair of widgeon, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Both are branded “Pete,” signed, and dated 1979. Both have slightly turned heads. Hen is 14.25” long, drake 13.75”. Drake has very slight roughness to tip of tail, otherwise very good and original. (350 - 450) 543. Pair of ruddy ducks, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Branded “Pete,” signed, and dated 1983. Each 9.25” long. Both have original paint with slight wear; one has small dents and shot marks. (350 - 450) 544. Feeding greater yellowlegs with iron bill, Spencer Tinkham. “Tink” carved under tail. Relief wing carving and shoe button eyes. Mounted on original base, base is included. 19” long. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good. (350 - 450) 263


545

546

547

548

549

550

545. Curlew made in the style of decoys from North Hampton County, Virginia, unknown maker. Bill is splined through back of head. Paint is stressed to appear old. 14” x 3.5” x 7”. Excellent and original. (400 - 600) 546. Rare standing “ice goose”, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Slightly turned head. Signed “Del Bokelman”. 26” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Bokelman estate.

(650 - 950)

547. Hollow carved black duck, Mark, Ian, and Colin McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Signed “For Eastern Shore DU 2007”. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Very slightly turned head. 18.5” long. Very good and original. (650 - 950)

264

548.

Breast preening dove, Cameron McIntyre, New Church, Virginia. “CTM” carved on the underside. Original base is included. 11.5” long. Original and good. (500 - 700)

549. Two shorebirds, Skip Couvillion, Shreveport, Louisiana. Signed and dated 2017. Relief wing carving and glass eyes. Mounted on driftwood base that is signed and dated as well. 14.5” and 13.75” long. Very good and original. (300 - 400) 550. Pair of bluebills, Ben Heinemann. Branded. Also both have the name on the weights. Both have turned heads and good paint detail. Both approximately 14.5” long. Excellent and original. (500 - 700)


551

552

553

551. Wood duck drake, Clarence Fennimore. Very slightly turned head. Carved in the Delaware River tradition. Signed. 14” long. Very good and original. Literature: “Decoys: Sixty Living and Outstanding North American Carvers,” Loy Harrell, exact decoy pictured. (300 - 400) 552. Wood duck drake, Frank Finney, Cape Charles, Virginia. Signed. 15.5” long. Very good and original.

553. Wood duck drake, Russ Allen, Galloway, New Jersey. Signed “RA 69”. Slightly turned head. 14.25” long. Slight paint blistering under tail, otherwise very good and original. Literature: “Decoys: Sixty Living and Outstanding North American Carvers,” Loy Harrell, exact decoy pictured. (300 - 500)

Literature: “Decoys: Sixty Living and Outstanding North American Carvers,” Loy Harrell, exact decoy pictured. (950 - 1,250)

265


Decoratives

554

555

556

557

558

554. Shorebird on barnacle base, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Signed and dated 4/84. Slightly turned head. 13” long. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 555. Pair of mallards, Bill Cranmer, Beach Haven, New Jersey. Signed and dated 1962. Both have slightly turned heads. Both 15.25” long. Very good and original. (500 - 700) 556. Canvasback drake, Jett Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed by Brunet on underside, 1984. Head is slightly turned. 14” x 7” x 11” with keel. Very good and original. (600 - 800)

266

559

557. Bufflehead drake, Jude Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed and dated on underside, 8/30/1990. Competition style with raised and crossed wings. Heavy detail carving in head. 12.5” long. Excellent and original. (400 - 600) 558. Pintail drake, Paul Foytack. Blue ribbon winner at ODCCA. Good feather paint detail and slightly turned head. Branded “Foytack”. 21” long. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 559. Running yellowlegs, Reggie Birch, Chincoteage, Virginia. “R Birch” carved in underside. Relief wing carving. 14.5” long. Very good and original. (350 - 450)


559A. * Pair of bluewing teal, Dennis Schroeder. Branded and signed on underside with flying duck remarque, and inscription “For Wayne Watson”. Both have detailed carved wingtips and turned heads. Fine feather paint detail. Hen 10.25” long, drake 11”. Excellent and original.

559A

Provenance: Watson collection. (3,000 - 5,000)

559B. Pair of ringbills, Jude Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed “Made espically for my friends Wayne and Faye, Jude Brunet, 1999 and 2000”. Both have turned and slightly nestled heads. Carved crossed wingtips and fluted tails. Good paint detail. Hen 10.75” long, drake 11.5”. Excellent and original. Provenance: Watson collection.

(3,500 - 5,500)

559B

559A Detail

559B Detail 267


559C. Pair of mallards, Jimmie Vizier, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed and dated 1999 and 2000. Both have slightly turned heads, carved crossed wingtips, as well as tail feather carving. Hen 15.5” long, drake 16.5”. Very good and original. Provenance: Watson collection. (2,500 - 3,500)

559C 559D. Pair of goldeneye, Jimmie Vizier, Galliano, Louisiana. Both are signed “For the collection of Wayne and Faye Watson”. Both have slightly turned heads, carved crossed wingtips. Hen 12.75” long, drake 14.75”. Excellent and original. Provenance: Watson collection. (2,500 - 3,500)

559D

559E. Pair of black ducks, Jimmie Vizier, Galliano, Louisiana. Both are signed and dated 1994. Both have hardwood keels. Slightly turned heads and carved crossed wingtips. Both 15.5” long. Very good and original. Provenance: Watson collection. (2,000 - 4,000)

559E 559F. Bluewing teal hen, Jimmie Vizier, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed “Carved special for the collection of Wayne and Faye Watson. Jimmie Vizier, 1997”. Carved crossed wingtips and slightly turned head 10.75” long. Excellent and original. Provenance: Watson collection. (1,250 - 1,750)

559F 268


560

562

564

561

563

565

560. Pair of flying bluebills from Chincoteague, Virginia. Good feather carving detail. Mounted on backboard with water painted on it. 14” x 28” 8.25”. Original and good. (800 - 1,200)

563. Song birds in tree, Frank Finney, Cape Charles, Virginia. Serifed “F” carved in underside of base. Approximately 16.5” tall. Original and good. (1,250 - 1,750)

561. * Full size semi palmated plover in beach scene, Ernie Muehlmatt. Dated 7/80 and signed. Base 10” wide. Original and good. (800 - 1,200)

564. Four shorebirds, Jay Parker, Parkertown, New Jersey. Largest 13.75” long. Original and good. (500 - 700)

562. * “Like a Rock,” Tri Colored heron and painted turtle standing in pond scene on hardwood base by J.E. Hazelby. Approximately 24” tall. Signed and dated 1992. Highly detailed feather carving. Original and good. (1,000 - 1,500)

565. Pair of pintails, Armand Carney, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Signed and dated 1972. Both have slightly turned heads and relief wing carving. Hen 15” long, drake 19.25”. Very good and original. (500 - 700)

269


566

567

568

569

570

571

566. Full size standing golden plover in winter plumage, James Lapham, Dennisport, Massachusetts. Signed. Approximately 7” tall. Very good and original.

Provenance: Staplin collection.

(500 - 800)

567. Canada goose, Vince Giannetto, Beverly, New Jersey. Relief wing carving and turned head. 22.5” long. Original paint with significant shrinkage; structurally good. (350 - 450) 568. Running yellowlegs, Dan Brown, Salisbury, Maryland. Signed and dated 1980 under the base. Relief wing carving. 11.75” long. Very good and original. (350 - 450)

270

569. Full size sanderling similar to work of Charles Hart, Gloucester, Massachusetts. 6.5” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good. (400 - 600) 570. Full size hummingbird on perch, Frank Finney, Cape Charles, Virginia. Signed. Relief wing carving and turned head. 5” long. Several small paint scrapes on bill, otherwise very good and original. (400 - 600) 571. Standing greenwing teal hen, mounted on weighted float for competition, Dan Brown, Salisbury, Maryland. Good paint and feather caving detail. 25.5” long. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(400 - 600)


Contemporary Carvings

572

573

574

575

576

572.

577

Pair of hooded mergansers, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Signed. Both have slightly turned heads. Both 14.25” long. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good. (800 - 1,200)

573. Stylish pair of mergansers, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Signed. Hen is 17.5” long, drake is 19.5”. Relief wing carving and slightly turned heads; original paint that has been aged; structurally good. (1,000 - 1,400) 574. Pair of plover, carved in the style of decoys from the Rodgers rig, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Signed. Both 10.25” long. Original paint that has been aged; tiny dents. (1,000 - 1,400)

575. Large eider drake with mussel in its mouth, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Oval Mueller stamp in underside. Hollow carved with inlet head, detailed bill carving, and relief wing carving. 22” long. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on the extremities; a few small dents; small crack near line ring. (900 - 1,200) 576. Two shorebirds, David Ward, Essex, Connecticut. Stamped “DBW.” Both have slightly turned heads and raised carvied wingtips. 12.5” and 7.75” long. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good. (650 - 950) 577. Reproduction of a Charles T. Wilson teal. 11.75” long. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Staplin collection. Purchased from Bobby Richardson in 1976. (800 - 1,200) 271


579

578

580

581

582

584

585

586

578. A pair of curlew, David Ward, Essex, Connecticut. Stamped “DBW.” Very slightly turned heads and detailed wing carvings. 15” and 16” long. Very good original. (900 - 1,200)

582. Canada goose carved in the style of Ira Hudson, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Signed. 24.75” long. Original paint that has been aged; numerous cracks in body. (500 - 700)

579. Two shorebirds, David Ward, Essex, Connecticut. Both are stamped “DBW”. Feeding yellowlegs with detailed wing carving and a plover with slightly turned head and daised wingtips. 10.5” and 10” long. Very good and original. (650 - 950)

584. Pair of hollow carved redheads, Bill Kennedy, formerly of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Nicknamed ‘Old School Willie’ for his use of hand tools only. Branded “OSW”. Both have turned heads. Both 13.75” long. Very good and original. (400 - 600)

580. Stick up gull, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Signed. 17.5” long. Original paint that has been aged; two age splits in underside; stick has broken off in stick hole. (400 - 600)

585. Pair of oversize mergansers, Bill Kennedy, formerly of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Nicknamed ‘Old School Willie’ for his use of hand tools only. Branded “OSW”. Both approximately 15.25” long. Very slight flaw in wood in hen’s back; surface crack in hen’s lower side. (400 - 600)

581. Pair of widgeon carvings in style of Lloyd Sterling, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia. Large “C” carved in the undersides. Both have slightly turned heads. Both approximately 14.25” long. Very good and original. (650 - 950)

272

586. Pair of oversize mergansers, Bill Kennedy, formerly of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Nicknamed ‘Old School Willie’ for his use of hand tools only. Branded “OSW”. Hen 20.5” long, drake 25”. Very good and original. (400 - 600)


Delbert “Cigar” Daisey Chincoteague, Virginia

587

588

589

590

591

587.

592

Pair of gunning buffleheads, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded “Cigar” and signed. Both have slightly turned heads. Both 10.75” long. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good. (1,200 - 1,600)

590. Dowitcher, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded “Cigar” on underside of bird and base. Relief wing carving. 8.75” long. Very good and original. (650 - 950)

588. Cork body black duck, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Also inscribed “Eastern Shore DU Supper November 1987.” 18” long. Very good and original. (500 - 800)

591. Mallard hen and drake, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Both are branded “Cigar”. Hen has cork body, cedar head, and cedar keel. Drake has the same, but also a bottom board. Hen 17.75” long, drake 17.25”. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,600)

589. Pair of buffleheads, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded, “Cigar,” and signed, and dated December 1970. Both have turned heads. Hen 11” long, drake 11.25”. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

592. Two doves, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Both are stamped “Cigar” and signed by him on underside. Both measure 11” long x 3” wide. One has small dent on underside, otherwise excellent and original. (800 - 1,000)

273


593

594

595

593. Canvasback drake, John Barnard, Havre de Grace, Maryland, last quarter 19th century. 15.5” long. Appealing old in use repaint; thin crack in bill; rough area on one side of bill. (800 - 1,200) 594. Very rare high neck model canvasback drake, Jim Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland. 17.25” long. Decoy has had old overpaint dry scraped off of it revealing the original in most places; some of old repaint is still on decoy; hit by shot; thin crack in bill and partway through neck; two nails added to the top of the head a long time ago; small rough side on one lower side. (1,250 - 1,750)

274

595. Mallard hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1958. Balsa body with raised wingtips slightly turned cedar head, and inserted cedar tail. 17.5” long. Several tiny dents otherwise Very good and original.

Provenance: Svoboda collection.

(2,000 - 3,000)


596

597

598

599

600 eight of approximately 35

601 nine of approximately 35

596. Early bluebill drake, Bob McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 1st half 20th century. Stamped “CMD” in underside. 18” long. Strong original paint that is worn evenly; 1 1/2” crack under one eye; slight separation between neck and body. (400 - 500)

600. A lot of approximately 35 decoy books. Including “Hunting the Chesapeake,” “Duck Shooting Along the Atlantic Tidewater,” “Detroit Decoy Dynasty,” and “American Hunting” with drawings by Lynn Bogue Hunt. Good. (200 - 300)

597. Brant, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. 17” x 6.5” x 8”. Excellent and original. (500 - 700)

601. Approximately 35 old decoy and hunting books. Including “Bloodlines,” Putnam, “Wildfowl Decoys,” Joel Barber, “Saga of the Waterfowl,” Bovey, and “The New Wildfowler,” Scott. Fair to good. (200 - 300)

598. Two cast iron sink box decoys from the Havre de grave, Maryland area, last quarter 19th century. 13” long. F air. (900 - 1,200) 599. Pair of cast iron canvasback sinkbox decoys from the upper Chesapeake Bay. 15.25’ long. Worn old paint; structurally good. (650 - 950)

End of Session Two 275


Index of Carvers Adamson, Harry Curieux..........................................................149 Allen, Russ................................................................................553 Andreuccetti, Luigi............................................................512,514 Anger, Ken.............................................................................53,54 Antis, Harry................................................................. 219A-219D Audubon, J.J......................................................................221,222 Bailey, Clarence........................................................................314 Barco, Bailey.............................................................................189 Barkelow, Lou...........................................................................446 Barnard, John............................................................................593 Barnes, Sam..............................................................................130 Bell, Allan......................................................................... 533-536 Benson, Frank...........................................................................150 Benz Wood Products.................................................................506 Bicknell, Percy...................................................................507,508 Birch, Reggie...............................67,68,539,559,572,573,580,582 Birch, Charles.............................................................................94 Birdsall, Charles.....................................................................477A Bishop, Richard..................................................................148,496 Blair, Sr., John...........................................................................293 Boice, Harry..................................................................44,439,441 Bolles, Reginald........................................................................484 Bourg, Xavier............................................................................109 Bourne, Jim...............................................................................310 Bowman, William..............................................................380,381 Boyd, George..............................................................300,338,339 Brewer, Josh.......................................................................363,364 Bridge, J.Dwight.......................................................................223 Brooks, Allen..................................................... 147C,147D,147G Brown, Dan.................................................................297,568,571 Brunet, Tan............................................................................. 118B Brunet, Jett................................................................................556 Brunet, Jude....................................................................557,559B Burke, Dr. Edgar.......................................................................212 Campo, Domingo......................................................................119 Carlson, K.................................................................................213 Carney, Armand........................................................................565 Chadwick, Keyes......................................................................308 Chaffee, Art...............................................................................537 Chambers, Tom.................................................................51,52,55 Champagne, Walter...................................................................111 Chatham, Joseph.......................................................................499 Chesser, Grayson........................................................491,519,581 Chrysler, William.....................................................................52B Clark, Roland............................................................................142 Clark, Charles........................................................................390A Cobb, Jr., Nathan................................................................355,362 Coheleach, Guy..................................................................208,209 Conklin, Hurley................................................................. 254-274 Corbin, Peter.............................................................................211 Couvillion, Skip........................................................................549 Crandall, Hi........................................................................298,299 Cranmer, Bill.............................................................................555 Crockett, Bill.............................................................................214 Crowell, Elmer................ 1-8,165-187D,288,339,341-344B,351A Daisey, Cigar....................................................... 200,532,587-592 Defoe, Marcel...........................................................................123 Denny, James.........................................................................532A Dilley, John..........................................................238,328,394,395

Dodge Decoy Factory .............................................................505 Doughty, Eli................................................................................99 Dudley, Lee...............................................................................195 DuPont ....................................................................................492 Dye, Ben...................................................................................320 Elliston, Robert.........................................................................453 English, Dan................................................................413,414,415 English, John.............................................................................417 English, Jack.............................................................................418 Ertz, Bruno................................................................................499 Esperson, Sam...........................................................................511 Fennimore, Harry......................................................................442 Fennimore, Clarence.................................................................551 Fentress ...................................................................................192 Finney, Frank.......................................................540,552,563,570 Foote, James...........................................................................500A Foret, Sydney............................................................................116 Foytack, Paul.............................................................................558 Frost, A.B..................................................................................151 Fuller, Arthur.............................................................................216 Garren, Otto..............................................................................479 Garton, John.......................................................................367,368 Gelston, Thomas..................................................................61,252 Giannetto, Vince.......................................................................567 Gibian, William.................................................9,126,127,379,474 Gisclair, Ebdon...................................................................108,113 Glassford, Al.............................................................................365 Gleason, Ken...............................................................373,528,529 Graham, John............................................................................470 Grant, Henry.............................................................................427 Graves, Bert.......................................................................454,483 Haertel, Harold..........................................................................525 Hagerbaumer, David..........................................................146,152 Hall, Parker...............................................................................391 Hancock, Miles.........................................................................196 Hankins, Ezra............................................................................388 Hanson, Marty...........................................................................120 Harrison, JC..............................................................................212 Hastings, Howard................................................................... 147F Haywood, Mannie.....................................................................191 Hazelby, JE...............................................................................562 Heinemann, Ben........................................................................550 Heisler, Jess...............................................................................421 Hendrickson, Eugene................................................................440 Herbert, Del...............................................................................530 Heverin, Will......................................................................229,230 Holland, Mark...........................................................................374 Holly, Jim..................................................................................228 Holly, James................................................................315,319,469 Holly, Jim..................................................................................594 Horn, John.................................................................................251 Horner, Rowley......................................................24,428,430,443 Horsfall, Bruce....................................................147B,147E,147H Howell, Leroy.............................................................................66 Hudson, Ira C............................................................................197 Hudson, Ira.............................................101,102,199,331,358,378 Irvine, Lawrence................................................................... 63-65 Janson, Richard..................................................................509,513 Jeanfreau, Charles.....................................................................107


Jenings, Forest..........................................................................524 Jester, Doug................................................................ 356,359-361 Johnson, Taylor..................................................................... 47-49 Johnson, Lloyd..........................................................................305 Joiner, Charlie................................ 226,283,284,296,321-326,597 Kellum, Frank....................................................................333,334 Kennedy, Bill............................................................. 497,584-586 King, A.J.....................................................................292,294,295 Klepinger, Nick.........................................................................212 LaFrance, Mitchell....................................................................106 Lapham, James..........................................................................566 Lawson, Oliver........................132-136,286,303,516,517,521-523 Leeds, Daniel Lake.....................................................................45 Lemay, Art.......................................................................208,499D Lincoln, Joseph................................................... 289-291,353,354 Linton, Andrew.........................................................................202 Lockhard, Henry.......................................................................131 Loge, Daniel..............................................................................499 Madera, Clark....................................................................416,422 Mason, Will.................................................................................98 Mason Decoy Factory .......................................70-93,500E,500F Maxwell, Roy............................................................................236 Mayol, Jorge...............................................................208,219,220 McAnney, John....................................................................41,444 McClellan, William...................................................................515 McGaw, Robert..................................................................225,596 McIntyre, Cameron.....................................................121,154,548 McLoughlin, John..............................................................371,520 McNair, Ian...............................................................................475 McNair, Mark................................................... 10-15,472,547,574 Meekins, Alvin..........................................................................464 Mitchell, Madison..............................................................318,466 Moreland, Bob.......................................................................477B Morgan, Joe...............................................................................419 Muelhmatt, Ernie......................................................................561 Mueller, Keith.............................................................375,554,575 Ohnmacht, Bernard...................................................................448 Old Town Canoe .....................................................................494 Orme, Albert.............................................................................347 Parker, Lloyd........................................................................27,432 Parker, Ellis...............................................................................435 Parker, Jay.................................................................................564 Pease, Ben.................................................................................345 Pellegrin, Arthur........................................................................110 Perdew, Charles..........................................447,449,451,477D,478 Peterson, Oscar...........................................................................69 Peterson, Pete.....................................................................542,543 Peterson Decoy Factory ..........................................................502 Petit, Eugene.............................................................................210 Pratt, Norris...............................................................................279 Quinn, William..........................................................................420 Rathmell, Lou...........................................................................312 Reed, Corbin.............................................................................538 Reeves, Phineas...........................................................................50 Renneson, Chet.........................................................................147 Rodell, Don...............................................................................212 Roussel, Reme...........................................................................105 Rowe, Jim.................................................................................201 Rudisill, AJ................................................................................526 Safford, Charles...........................................................287,302,307

Salmon, Bradford......................................................................436 Scheeler, John........................................................................500C Schmiedlin, Jim............................................................. 34-39,473 Schroeder, Dennis..................................................................559A Schultz, William.....................................................................500B Scott, Sir Peter..........................................................................143 Scott, R......................................................................................218 Seerey-Lester, John...................................................................207 Shourds, Harry M........................................................................26 Shourds, Harry V............................................................................. 25,29-33,40,46,384,387,424-426,429,431,433,434,445 Sloane, Eric...............................................................................144 Solberg, Mort............................................................................217 Southard, William..............................................................337,471 Sprague, Jonas...........................................................................234 Sterling, Lloyd.....................................................232,304,455,456 Sterling Family .......................................................................462 Stevens, Harvey..........................................................................57 Stevens Brothers, ......................................................................58 Straitor and Sohier ................................................. 239,477E,503 Strunk, George..............................................124,125,128,541,546 Susinno, Mark...........................................................................155 Swisher & Soules, ...................................................................504 Taflin and Raind........................................................................493 Tawes, Sr., Larry.......................................................................285 Taylor, Redd..............................................................................212 Thorburn, Archibald..................................................................145 Tinkham, Spencer.....................................................................544 Travers, Isaiah...........................................................................231 Truex, Rhodes.................................................28,235,237,423,437 Tyler, Lloyd...................................................137,141,233,459,531 Valdez, Vince.........................................................................500D Verdin, Laurent............................................................ 118C,118D Verity, Obediah..................................................................335,336 Vickers, John....................................................... 138-140,224,317 Vizier, Jimmie....................................................... 372,559C-559F Ward, David................................................................576,578,579 Ward Brothers ..................16-23,156-164,275-278,280-282,396412,457,458,460,461,467,468,518,595 Warin, George..........................................................................52C Watson, Dave..................................................96,100,205,329,385 Wheeler, Chauncey.....................................................................58 Wheeler, Shang....................................................153,349,352,369 Whipple, Mark............................................................103,104,114 Whipple, Stanwood...................................................................115 Whittington, Hector...........................................................450,452 Wildfowler Decoy Factory ......................................................501 Wilson, Gus.................................................................351,376,377 Winchester ..............................................................................495 Wooster, Joseph.........................................................................370 Wright, Alvirah..................................................................188,190 Zachman, John..........................................................................366


Collection Planning Program

Enjoy Collecting Now and Plan Ahead With a forty year history, you can rely on the Guyette & Deeter decoy auction house as the most trusted decoy auction firm to handle your estate planning and collection management needs. Whether it’s for tax purposes, estate planning, gifting, charitable giving or insurance purposes, let us manage and periodically update a comprehensive written appraisal of your collection. Gary and Jon are available to work with banks, attorneys, trust and estate officers, probate court, private clients and family members who may be responsible for the dispersal of estates and collections. Let professionals document your collection with accurate values and descriptions. We will work closely with you to ensure that your wishes are established at agreed upon terms and conditions now, to make it easier to administer your estate later.

Please contact Gary or Jon to discuss our Collection Planning Program today.

With several options, we make it easy for you to reach us: Gary Guyette PO Box 1170 • St. Michaels MD 21663 (410) 745-0485 • (410) 745-0487 fax gary@guyetteanddeeter.com Jon Deeter 7980 Darbys Run • Chagrin Falls OH 44023 (440) 610-1768 jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com For more information, visit our website: www.guyetteanddeeter.com


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Phone: 952-854-7441 – Fax: 952-854-7671

Dick Brust Memorial Vintage Decoy Competition 1. Smallest Gunning Decoy, any region. 2. Best La Crosse Fish Decoy, any species. 3. Best Mechanical Decoy, any region. 4. Best High Head Decoy, any region. 5. Best Confidence Decoy, any region.

(Vintage is 50 years old or older)

6. Best Minnesota Decoy, any species. 7. Best Southern Decoy, any species. 8. Best Checkered Call, any region. 9. Modern (post 1968) Canada Goose Decoy; 2 divisions: Decorative and Gunning. 10. Youth Contest: Any Canada Goose.

Featuring Minnesota’s Finest Decoys on Display & For Sale!

• Decoys - Old & New • Buy - Sell - Trade - Identify • Antique Sporting Goods • Contemporary Carvings • Game Calls - Old & New • How-To-Do-It • Wildlife Art

Alfred Moes Lakeville, MN 1896 – 1960

WINNER 2017

Minnesota Decoy, any species: Alfred Moes – Sleeper Drake Mallard Barb Hanson Collection

• WED. – THURS. •

• FRIDAY •

• SATURDAY •

JAN. 30 & 31, 2019

FEB. 1, 2019

FEB. 2, 2019

$20.00 Membership Fee – Includes Family Admission $20.00 Early Bird + membership gets you in at 9AM

Open to the Public $5.00 Admission 18 yrs. & older Vintage Decoy Competition

2PM – 10PM

Hotel room-to-room trading Open to the Public SPONSORED BY MINNESOTA DECOY COLLECTORS ASSN.

oy Dec on i t c 7 p.m. Decoy Auction Au P.M. 7 (9AM Exhibitor Setup)

11AM – 7PM

9AM– 3PM

Visit: www.MNDECOYCOLLECTORS.com ...and like us on facebook!


Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art

Glimpse the beauty of wildfowl from around the world

Gallery Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday: Noon-5 p.m. Members enjoy free admission 909 S. Schumaker Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804 410-742-4988

WARDMUSEUM.ORG

Ira Hudson Duck Family

The Museum features the world’s largest and finest public collection of decorative and antique decoys Join as a member, make a donation or plan a legacy gift today! Contact Executive Director Lora Bottinelli at 410-742-4988, Ext. 111


Visit us today — DUCKS UNLIMITED —

Artist, Mitchell LaFrance

Artist, Mike Frady

Come learn about Ducks Unlimited, wetlands conservation, waterfowl, and the history of waterfowl hunting in North America. Located inside one of the largest and most unique retail stores in the world, the Waterfowling Heritage Center features exhibits and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages.

LOUISIANA DECOY LEGENDS EXHIBIT COMING AUGUST 2018 on loan from BRIAN CHERAMIE and BRUCE LOWE

— DUCKS UNLIMITED WATERFOWLING HERITAGE CENTER — at Bass Pro Shops Pyramid

One Bass Pro Drive | Memphis, TN 38105 | 901-291-8257


Find us on Facebook facebook.com/mymaritimemuseum


CONDITIONS OF SALE ‑- PLEASE READ 1.

GUARANTEE ‑ We have made a consistent effort in correctly cataloging and describing the property to be sold. The decoys and paintings have guaranteed condition reports. Should the need arise, the auctioneer reserves the right to make verbal corrections and provide additional information from the block, at the time of the sale. Absentee bids will not be executed on items that are found to be other than described in the catalog. Since opinions can differ, particularly in the matter of condition, the auctioneer will be sole judge in the matter of refunds. 2. DURATION OF GUARANTEE ‑ Request for refund for items purchased IN PERSON at the auction must be made within 3 days of the sale. If you are an absentee or phone bidder it is your responsibility to examine the lot immediately upon receipt. On items purchased absentee, the guarantee will end 3 days from the date of delivery. Therefore, all guarantees on items purchased will become null and void 7 calendar days from the date of shipment. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF YOU PAY LATE, YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GUARANTEE. Payment must be postmarked no later than 30 days after the auction. 3. PROTESTED BIDS ‑ In the case of a disputed bid, the auctioneer is the sole determinant as to who the successful bidder is, and at his discretion, may reoffer and resell the article in dispute. If a dispute arises after the sale, the auctioneer’s sales records shall be conclusive as to who the purchaser was, and the purchase price. 4. BIDDING - Bidding usually starts below the low estimate and advances in increments of approximately 10% of the opening bid subject to the auctioneer’s discretion. The auctioneer reserves the right, at his sole discretion, to refuse any bids that he deems unreasonable. The minimum bid increment guideline is as follows: $500 to $1000 - $25 $10,000 to $20,000 - $500 $100,000 and above - $2,000 $1000 to $10,000 - $100 $20,000 to $100,000 - $1,000 5. ABSENTEE BIDS ‑ Phone or mail bids, at the discretion of the Auctioneer, will be accepted with a 20% deposit. In such case, the bookkeeper will execute such bids competitively. Absentee bids are executed by the bookkeeper on behalf of the bidder in accordance with the bid increment policy shown above. Please review the rules governing both absentee and phone bids in the back of the catalog. 6. TERMS ‑ All items are to be paid for in U.S. funds on the day of the auction. No items will be released until they are paid for. Those who have not established an account with us and wish to pay by check, must do so prior to the beginning of the auction, by presenting a current letter of reference from their bank, or by providing references, that are suitable to the Auctioneer. The Auctioneer reserves the right to hold merchandise purchased by personal check, until the check has cleared the bank. Phone and absentee bidders ‑ You will be notified one week after the auction of your bids/results. PAYMENT IS DUE UPON RECEIPT. A late charge will be accessed on all balances not paid, at the rate of 12% A.P.R. commencing 30 days after the auction. If any accounts become more than 60 days overdue, the consignor will be given the name of the buyer who is responsible for holding up their funds. Guyette & Deeter will not carry insurance on items that are not paid for within 35 days of the auction. Also, the auctioneer may retain and/or recover the deposit specified as liquidated damages. In addition, the property can be resold at public or private sale without further notice. Any deficiency resulting from such resale shall be paid to the auctioneer by the defaulting buyer, together with all charges, fees, and expenses incurred by such resale, or the enforcement of the obligation hereunder. Buyer agrees to pay all charges and expenses incurred by reason of any breach of the Terms and Conditions of Sale, including without limitation, reasonable attorney fees. 7. PAYMENT FOR PURCHASES MAY BE MADE WITH VISA , MASTERCARD, CASH, CHECK, OR WIRE TRANSFER. 8. BUYERS PREMIUM- The buyer’s premium, assessed on each selling lot, is 18% of the hammer price up to and including $1,000,000, plus 10% on any amount in excess of $1,000,000. For payments made using Visa or MasterCard, the buyer’s premium is 21% up to and including $1,000,000, plus 13% on any amount in excess of $1,000,000. 9. TAX ‑ THERE IS A 6% SALES TAX IN MARYLAND. Tax is waived if buyer presents a valid resale certificate from any state or has purchases shipped outSIDE of Illinois. 10. ACCEPTANCE OF CONDITIONS ‑ Bidding on any articles in this catalog indicates your acceptance of all the above items. 11. BIDDING AGENT RESPONSIBILITY ‑ If you are registering for someone or if you execute a bid for someone else under your number, you are responsible for the settlement of that account. You are also responsible for examining the decoy(s) for your client regarding the guarantee. 12. WITHDRAWAL ‑ We reserve the right to withdraw any property before the sale and shall have no liability whatsoever for such withdrawal. 13. TITLE ‑ Title passes upon the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer. It will then be the responsibility of the buyer to make full payment prior to removing the goods from the premises. Removal is at both the buyer’s risk and expense, and must be made at the conclusion of the sale, unless other arrangements are made with the Guyette & Deeter staff. Any lots we might make arrangements for moving or storing are solely at the risk of the owner, and any damage or loss occurring after the fall of the hammer becomes that of the buyer. 14. LEGAL DISPUTE ‑ Any legal disputes arising from this auction shall be settled in the court system of the State of Maine. UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE - The Maine Uniform Commercial Code, Title II, Section 2328 applies to this auction. 15. All calls are sold “As Is”. THE OFFICE WILL NOT BE OPEN UNTIL TUESDAY AFTER THE AUCTION.


ABSENTEE, PHONE, AND ONLINE BIDS 1. Absentee bids are a service provided to our customers free of charge. Every effort is made to execute all absentee bids, however, in the event of an error or omission, or failure to properly execute absentee bids, the Auctioneer shall not be held liable. 2. All absentee bids must be accompanied by a 20% deposit, which will be refunded immediately after the auction if your bid is unsuccessful. If your bid is successful, the deposit will be applied to the purchase price and the balance due upon presentation of your bill. All absentee bidders are notified by mail, whether successful or unsuccessful. 3. Visa and Mastercard numbers can be given in place of a check deposit, if your bid is submitted by phone. Your card number will not be used to make payments for purchases, it is only used as collateral. Your card number will only be used to make payment for purchases if you default on payment. 4. To execute an absentee bid, fill out the enclosed form listing catalog number, description, and your top bid price (not including the 18% buyer’s premium). Send this together with your deposit as soon as possible. If your bids are sent seven days or less prior to the auction, you should call our office three days prior to the auction, to confirm that we have received your bids. If they have not been received at that point in time, we will take your bid over the phone. We cannot guarantee that bids received after the auction has started will be executed. 5. If two or more bids are received on the same item from different people, the bidding will open at the next logical raise above the second highest bid. If two absentee bids are received with the exact same amount, the first one received will take precedence. 6. All bids must be in even dollar amounts. Bids in fractions of dollars will be considered the next lower even dollar amount. 7. Bid increments: The bid increment policy, which also applies to both absentee and phone bidders, is listed under “CONDITIONS OF SALE” (item #4), in the front of the catalog. 8. Open bids, bids with no set top amount, or orders to just simply buy the lot, cannot be accepted. You must have a definite top limit before we can execute your bid. Alternatives to this are as follows: a. To bid over the telephone. This can be done by simply sending a 20% deposit for what you wish to bid on the object. This will bind whatever bid amount you wish to bid over the telephone. (NOTE: There are only 8 phone lines into the auction room and phone bids will be handled on a first come, first serve basis.) b. Some bidders concerned that a lot might just go for one bid above their top limit, leave a top bid plus one bid. This works as follows: the top bid submitted might be $1,000, but not wishing to lose the lot for simply $25 more, the party might bid $1,000 + 1 bid if they definitely don’t want to go over a certain price, they would indicate $1,000 +1 ($1,025) (NOTE: One possible problem that occasionally arises with absentee bids is when someone in the audience bids exactly the amount, which you specify is your limit. In such a case, we would not go one extra bid unless your bid sheet indicates “plus one” bid.). 9. If you are a successful bidder, a bill will be sent one week after the auction. Purchasers should indicate their desired method of shipment, if such is necessary. There is a charge for shipping, labor, materials, and insurance. Shipping is done on a first come, first serve basis, and can take up to 4 weeks. Please note that a certified check, Visa, Mastercard, or any other form of guaranteed funds will expedite shipping. 10. According to UPS regulations, we must now crate all paintings. In addition, for expensive oil paintings and delicate carvings, we need a written statement from the purchaser, assuming the responsibility of pursuing any claims, in the event of damage incurred during shipping. Valuable lots need to be sent 2 day air UPS due to values. Under no circumstances will we be liable for damage to glass or frames, or fragile decoratives, regardless of cause. 11. TERMS — Phone and absentee bidders — You will be notified one week after the auction of your results. Payment is due upon receipt. Interest will be charged on all balances not paid within 30 days after the bill is sent at the rate of 12% APR. If any accounts become more than 60 days overdue, the consignor will be given the name of the buyer who is responsible for holding up their funds. If an account is 75 days overdue, the items may be returned to the consignor and overdue buyer will pay the buyers premium and commission from the sale, if they wish to participate in future Guyette and Deeter auctions. 12. Bidding on any article(s) indicates your acceptance of these terms above. 13. If you would like any additional information on any of the lots, please contact: Gary Guyette at (410) 745-0485 or Jon Deeter at (440) 610-1768. nd

If you have any questions concerning absentee bids, please call us.


OFFICE: OFFICE:

ABSENTEE AND PHONE BID FORM

1170 PO Box 1170 St. Michaels, MD MD 21663 410-745-0485 410-745-0485 Fax Fax 410-745-0487 410-745-0487 decoys@guyetteandschmidt.com decoys@guyetteanddeeter.com

OFFICE USE ONLY TIME DATE OF BID AUCTION DATE MANAGER ABSENTEE OR PHONE BID

NAME ADDRESS CITY

STATE

ZIP

TELEPHONE DEPOSIT $

(Check Amount or Visa or MasterCard # & Exp.)

IIdesire following items in the sale.sale. The The bids bids are toare be to executed by Guyette & Deeter, up to but desiretotobid bidononthe the following items in the executed by Guyette & Schmidt, Inc.,not upexceeding to but notthe amount(s) on the below bids.on Allthe bidsbelow will be executed and will accepted subject to theaccepted Terms ofsubject Sale andtoAbsentee Bids exceedingspecified the amount(s) specified bids. All bids be executed and the Terms of Procedure outlined inBids the catalog. (Please be sure you understand before using thisour Absentee and Phone Sale and Absentee Procedure outlined in that the catalog. (Pleaseour be procedures sure that you understand procedures before Bid Form.) will not open until Wednesday after using this Office Absentee andbe Phone Bid Form.) Office willthe notauction. be open until Wednesday after the auction.

Signature

A PREMIUM OF OF 18% WILL BE APPLIED ITEMSSOLD, SOLD, PAID BY THE BUYER A PREMIUM 15% WILL BE APPLIED TO TO ALL ALL ITEMS TOTO BEBE PAID BY THE BUYER OFFICE USE

IN CATALOG # ORDER

DESCRIPTION

A SECOND PAGE IS PROVIDED ON BACK SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SPACE TOTAL BIDS $

x 20%

EQUALS DEPOSIT ENCLOSED $

BID AMOUNT


Page 2

NAME OFFICE USE

PHONE IN CATALOG # ORDER

AUCTION DATE DESCRIPTION

BID AMOUNT


380

142

402

494

69


Guy et te & Deet er, Inc . PO Box 1170, St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-0485 | www.guyetteanddeeter.com


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