Record shattering auction realizes over $3 million
Due to the COVID-19 situation we conducted our annual spring decoy and sporting art auction remotely this year, on May 29 & 30. The auction was held with phone, absentee, and online bidding only, there was no audience present. 14 phone lines were available, as well as online bidding through three different platforms – Invaluable, Bidsquare, and LiveAuctioneers. Bid calling was done by James D. Julia.
Despite the unusual circumstances, the sale exceeded expectations, realizing just over $3 million and setting 28 world auction records for makers, with a sell through rate of 98.9 percent. The excitement started from the very first lot when a pair of shovelers from the Mason Decoy Factory sold over estimate at $56,400. Prices were extremely strong throughout with many lots selling for well over estimate. The top lot in the sale was a swan by Charles Birch that sold for $132,000. The sale was highlighted by the first selection of decoys by the Dr. Lloyd T. Griffith collection, which included a Nathan Cobb, Jr. robin snipe selling for $90,000 and a teal by A.B. Vance selling for $64,800. Prices for sporting art, fish decoys, and duck calls were also very strong, setting many auction records.
We are now taking consignments for our August 18 & 19, 2020 auction to be held at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A 50 table dealer show will be at the same location. Contact the Sheraton at 603-431-2300 for discounted room rates. The consignment deadline for the August sale is June 25th. To discuss decoys in this auction or to consign to future auctions, contact Gary at 410-745-0485 or Jon at 440-610-1768.
Swan, Charles Birch
Mallard, Ferd Homme
World auction record for maker
Greenwing teal, A.B. Vance
World auction record for maker
Pair of shovelers, Mason Decoy Factory
Oil on canvas, Edmund Osthaus. 22" x 36"
Turned head yellowles from Assateague, VA
Mallard hen, Charles Perdew
Golden plover from the Webster rig
Yellowlegs, William Bowman
Sandhill cranes, Danz Manufacturing Company
World auction record for maker
Mallard, Charles Walker
Bluewing teal, Harvey Stevens
Mallard, Hays Finkle
World auction record for maker
Black duck, Albert Laing
Pair of bluewing teal, Mason Decoy Factory
Goldeneye, Ward Brothers
Rangely Lakes guide boat salesman sample
Redhead, Robert Elliston
Sunfish birdhouse, John Tax
Black bellied plover, Elmer Crowell
Peep, Dave "Umbrella" Watson
Yellowlegs, Elmer Crowell
Oil on canvas, Lynn Bogue Hunt. 21" x 15
Duck call, James Beckhart
Yelper turkey call, Tom Turpin
World auction record for maker
Duck call, Warner Wiles
World auction record for maker
Duck call, Doc Taylor
World auction record for maker
Duck call, Tiff Roseberry, Sr.
World auction record for maker
Duck call, John Morrow
World auction record for maker
Duck call, G.D. Kinney
World auction record for maker
Black bellied plover from Virginia
Canvasback, Gus Moak
Teal, Mason Decoy Factory
Yellowlegs, Charles Clark
Pintail, Robert Elliston
Decorative shovelers, Oliver Lawson
Oil on canvas, John Seerey Lester. 24" x 38"
Canvasback hen and drake, John R. Wells
Oil on canvas, James Brade Sword. 17.5" x 29.5"
Black duck and ducklings, Tom Schroeder
Swan, Madison Mitchell
World auction record for maker
Canvasback, Danny Scrivens
World auction record for maker
Pair of pintails, Scott Young
World auction record for maker
Pintail, George Morrell
World auction record for maker
Pintail hen, Eddie Granier
World auction record for maker
Robin snipe, Nathan Cobb, Jr.
Old squaw, Mason Decoy Factory
Pair of mallards, Harvey Stevens
Black duck, Nathan Cobb, Jr.
Plover, Nathan Cobb, Jr.
Pintail, Charles Walker
Pintail, John Blair, Jr.
Bluebill, Arthur Cobb
Mallard hen, Charles Walker
Watercolor, Ogden Pleissner. 18" x 28"
"Incentive" model of a Kennebec canoe
Canvasback, Ferdinand Bach
Curlew, Alma Fitchett
World auction record for maker
Pair of canvasbacks, John Schweikart
Oil on canvas, Sir Peter Scott. 24.75" x 35.75"
Canvasback, Ward Brothers
Canada goose, David Ward
Yellowlegs, William Southard
Golden plover, Elmer Crowell
Fish decoy, Hans Janner
Fish decoy, Andy Trombley
World auction record for maker
Fish decoy, Jim Kelson
World auction record for maker
Fish decoy, Abe DeHate
World auction record for maker
Fish decoy, Dan Vandenbosche
World auction record for maker
Fish decoy, Frank Kuss
Whimbrel from the Matthews rig
Pintail, Bert Graves
Pair of redheads, Ivar Fernlund
Pair of pintails, Sidney Foret
World auction record for maker
Pair of mallards, Alfred Hebert
World auction record for maker
Canvasback, Joseph Kempinger
World auction record for maker
Goldeneye, Ward Brothers
Pair of canvasbacks, Gus Moak
Black bellied plover, Daniel Demott
Pair of bluewing teal, William Finch
Swan from the Princess Anne Club
Eskimo curlew, Alonzo Foster
Mallard drake, Harry Mitchell Shourds
Canada goose, Dan Voorhees
Canada goose, Mason Decoy Factory
Pair of bluebills, Jim Schmiedlin
Pair of bluebills, Owen Gromme
Pair of canvasbacks, Jim Schmiedlin
Bluebill, William Pepper
World auction record for maker
Bluebill, Arthur Cantrall
World auction record for maker
Pair of wood ducks, Pete Peterson
World auction record for maker
Wood duck, William Gibian
World auction record for maker
Semi palmated plovers, Jack Franco
World auction record for maker
