North American Decoys at Auction - November 11 & 12, 2015

Guyette & Deeter, Inc. North American Decoys At Auction November 11 & 12, 2015

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Guyette & Deeter, Inc.

North American Decoys At Auction Talbot County Community Center 10028 Ocean Gateway Easton, Maryland 21601 50 Table Buy, Sell, Swap November 10, 11, & 12

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Preview 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Join us for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Preview 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM Auction 11:00 AM

Thursday, November 12, 2015 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 | decoys@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.

■ For delicate carvings, a written statement from the purchaser assuming responsibility for pursuing any claims in the event of any damage incurred during shipping is required, these items are marked *. Under no circumstances will we be responsible for damage to glass, frames, or fragile decoratives, regardless of the cause.

■ 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.

■ Rooms available at a discounted rate at the Holiday Inn Express by mentioning the decoy auction, (410) 819-6500.

■ All duck calls have condition reports, but are sold “As Is”.

■ Trade Up Program - A limited numer of decoy purchases may be paid for by consigning decoys to the next Guyette & Deeter. auction. Ask Gary or Jon for Details.

UPCOMING GUYETTE & DEETER, INC. DECOY AUCTIONS February 13, 2016

Marriott Hotel Charleston, South Carolina

In Conjunction with the Southeastern Wildlife Expo

April 21 & 22, 2016

Pheasant Run Resort St. Charles, Illinois In Conjunction with Midwest Decoy Collectors’ Show To consign, Contact: Gary Guyette | decoys@guyetteanddeeter.com | 410-745-0485 Jon Deeter | jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com | 440-543-1416

Guyette & Deeter, Inc.

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

Jon & Leigh Ann Deeter 7980 Darbys Run Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Tel: 440-543-1416 Cell: 440-610-1768 Fax: 440-543-5405 jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com

Zac Cote Online auction manager & Photography Freeport, Maine Tel: 410-253-8616 zcote@guyetteanddeeter.com

Mike Stevenson Graphic Designer & Website Developer 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 24718 Beverly Road St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-0485 www.guyetteanddeeter.com decoys@guyetteanddeeter.com

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

Barbara Hunter

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

Featuring Decoys From The Collections Of:

Richard & Nancy Denesevich Sam Dyke Richard Elliot Brent Flowers

Pete Hanley Roger Mallar Doug and Ellen Miller George Moses Reid Newcomb

Sam Dyke

I first met Sam Dyke at one of the early fall Ward Museum shows in Salisbury Maryland sometime around 1990. Over the years he and I became friends. He would always be at the Ward Museum whenever I stopped by and I discovered we both shared a passion for decoys made in the Hog and Cobb Island Virginia area. I had always been intrigued and impressed with the decoys attributed to Walter Brady and Sam helped me organize an exhibit at the museum of decoys by Eli Doughty and Brady. The exhibit was an attempt to shed some light on the incredible similarities between the two makers works. I felt Eli Doughty was possibly the maker of them all but I am still not certain.

However, I am certain that Sam’s Eli Doughty brant is the finest one known.

Sam was truly a gentleman and visited my farm and studio several times, likewise inviting me to visit his collection often as well. Sam was always optimistic and very encouraging in regards to my carving and really encouraged my passion for painting as well. Sam shared many stories of decoy picking and collecting. His stories centered around his visits to Roy Bull, William Mackey, Bill Purnell and Dave Hawthorne. There were also many stories of duck hunting all around the Eastern Shore and tales of his love of birdwatching, especially shorebirds.

Many of the decoys in Sam’s collection are birds he found directly at the source while visiting the Shore’s many hamlets, boat sheds and wharves. Sam kept detailed records of his finds and his decoys have great, early provenance. Many of these decoys, while not in pristine condition, have great character and soul, just like Sam himself. They are the results of a lifetime of collecting by a man who knew his field well. Good birding, Sam -Cameron McIntyre

Sam Dyke I expect that many people who knew Sam Dyke as I did would use “trustworthy” to characterize him. He was also intelligent, humble, and generous.

When he moved to the Eastern Shore in the late 1950’s Sam’s position as a commercial forester and his deep love of natural history prompted him to explore the forests, fields, marshes, and waterways of the Eastern Shore. He was an avid waterfowl hunter and birder who appreciated the artistry and craftsmanship it took to create a great carving. Decoy collecting offered the perfect opportunity to combine his appreciation of birds, history, art, and nature.

Sam was keenly observant. It is without exaggeration to say that Sam evaluated several thousands of decoys in his lifetime. He studied decoys good and bad, talking with fellow collectors about their discoveries and insights. Each one added a layer to his knowledge and interest, which he generously passed along to others.

Sam Dyke

Sam’s contributions to scholarship related to the waterfowling heritage of the Eastern Shore are unequalled. He was an expert on the history of hunting and decoy carving, and was regularly published in major magazines, journals, and books. In 2008, Sam received the Heritage Professional Award from the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council. The Samuel H. Dyke Wildfowl Art Library at the Ward Museum holds his written legacy, as well as publications that inspired him.

The Ward Foundation trusted Sam to lead the organization in various capacities, including Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ward Foundation and Chair of the Curatorial Committee at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Sam served the Foundation and Museum for more than 40 years, and was instrumental in helping the Museum to grow from humble beginnings to one of the premier wildfowl art institutions in the world.

Sam was generous in his lifetime. He made several gifts of decoys from his collection to the Ward Museum. In keeping with that spirit, Guyette and Deeter have agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale of this collection to the Sam Dyke Memorial Fund at the Ward Museum. That fund is directed to opening the “Sam Dyke Gateway to Outdoor Discovery”-- a new entrance in the main museum lobby accessing the nature trails. On behalf of the Ward Museum, I invite you to experience the museum that Sam helped build for our community.

-Lora Bottinelli Executive Director, Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art

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Guyette & Deeter Online Auctions

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Pintail drake by Madison Mitchell Sold for $500

Bluebill drake by Ira Hudson Sold for $356

Redbreasted merganser by Bob White Sold for $891

Cattaraugas Cutlery advertising cover Sold for $67

For questions, contact: 410-253-8616 | zcote@guyetteanddeeter.com | PO Box 159, Freeport, Maine 04032 | www.decoysforsale.com

Session One

Ward Brothers

Contemporary

Virginia Shorebirds Pacific Coast

Maryland

Delbert “Cigar� Daisey Miniatures

New England

Delaware River

Paintings

Charlie Joiner

Virginia

Midwest

Decoratives

Maryland

Jim Schmiedlin

Shorebirds

Related Items

North Carolina

Factory

Louisiana

Elmer Crowell

Virginia

Contemporary

Canada

New York

Maryland

Virginia Shorebirds Maryland

Miscellaneous Decoys

1-8 9-19 20-27 28-30 31-48 49-57 58-70 71-79 80-87 88-95 96-107 108-126 127-142 143-153 154-168 169-174 175-193 194-209 210-229 230-242 243-247 248-251 252-269 270-289 290-297 298-316 317-339 340-355 356-362 363-375

Session Two

Ward Decoratives Decoratives

Virginia

New England

Maryland

Jim Schmiedlin

Contemporary

Mason Decoy Factory Cast Iron Wing Ducks New York

Prints and Stamps Virginia Shorebirds Contemporary

Ward Brothers

Virginia

Decoratives

Miscellaneous Decoys New Jersey

Maryland

Related Items

Virginia

376-385 386-406 407-422 423-436 437-446 447-450 451-465 466-479 480-488 489-497 498-505 506-522 523-531 532-541 542-550 551-572 573-579 580-600F 600G-615 616-626 627-642

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 11:00 AM Lots 1 -

Thursday, November 12, 2015 10:00 AM Lots

Please read conditions of sale in the back of catalog

SESSION ONE

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 - 11:00 am

The Ward Brothers Crisfield, Maryland

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8

1

1.

Exceedingly rare hollow carved rigmate pair of mallards, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1929. Bishop’s Head Gun Club style. Both have slightly turned heads. Original paint with minor wear; both have a separation at neck seam, hen’s angles up a little on one side; hen has a tiny chip missing from the bill tack; drake has discoloration at breast.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Myrtle Polk and Freddy Young in 1989.

(35,000 - 45,000)

1 9

2

2 Detail

2 Detail

10

2.

Redhead drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1929 model with slightly turned head. Painted, crossed wingtips. Original paint; minor wear; as with this whole rig, old overpaint has been taken off of the head, because it was repainted as a bluebill; filler in defect in wood on one side of head which is original to the decoy; small crack in the underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from A. Wakefield in 1973.

(6,500 - 9,500)

3

3 Detail

3 Detail

3.

Exceptional pair of 1948 model pintails, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1948. Balsa body with slightly turned cedar head and inserted cedar tail. Extra fine form and paint. Signed and dated 1948. Near mint; never rigged.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(6,000 - 8,000)

11

4 Detail

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4 Detail

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4 Detail

4.

Extremely rare 1932 model bluebill hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Head is turned approximately 45 degrees with wide flared bill. Never used; slight separation at neck seam; tight crack through tail; crack in underside; paint loss at two knots in one side.

Literature: “Ward Brothers Decoys,” Ron Gard and Brian McGrath, p. 39.

(8,000 - 12,000)

5

5A

5.

Pair of shooting stool model canvasbacks, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1970.

Both have turned heads and good paint detail. Very good and original.

Provenance: Purchased by consignors at a Ward Museum auction as being from the Ward Brothers collection. Both are branded “WBC”.

(4,000 - 5,000)

5A. Pair of shooting stool model buffleheads, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Shooting stool models.

Signed and dated 1966, with “LT Ward and Bro” stamp on underside. Both have slightly turned heads. Near mint original paint; hen has a thin crack in the underside; drake has wider crack in underside, extending halfway under breast and 1” under tail.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(4,000 - 6,000) 13

5B

5B Detail

5B.

5B Detail

Classic 1936 model bluebill drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. Thick original paint with very slight discoloration and wear; never used; crack in underside; professional repair to a small chip in one side of the tail and a small crack in the bill by Russ Allen.

Literature: “Ward Brothers Decoys,� Ron Gard and Brian McGrath, p. 39.

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(9,500 - 12,500)

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6. Pintail drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1948. Balsa body with slightly turned cedar head and inserted cedar tail. Original paint; very minor wear at a few small dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Lem Ward in 1969.

(3,500 - 4,500)

7.

Pair of shooting stool model redheads, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Both have turned heads and relief carved primaries and secondaries. Signed and dated 1969 with a quote, “A little extra for an extra friend, Rodney Reed.” Very good and original.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(4,000 - 6,000) 15

8 Detail

8 Detail

16

8.

Very rare black duck, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1933 model with turned and cocked head. Original paint with minor wear; slight separation at neck seam; a few small dents; bill tack was chipped off a long time ago; slight wear to wood on one side of bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from W.F. in 1971.

(12,500 - 17,500)

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17

Contemporary Carvings

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14

9.

Large curlew, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Relief wing carving. Original paint that has been aged; small shot marks and dents.

(1,000 - 1,400)

10. Running curlew, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Relief wing carving. Original paint that has been aged; a few small dents.

(1,000 - 1,400) 11. Eskimo curlew, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Relief wing carving. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good.

(800 - 1,200)

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12.

Hollow carved curlew, carved in the style of William Bowman, Lawrence, New York, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Raised, extended wingtips. Original paint that has been aged slightly; several tiny shot marks.

(1,750 - 2,250)

13. Ruddy duck, Mark McNair Craddockville, Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint that has been aged; two cracks in back; small dents.

(950 - 1,250) 14.

Hollow carved Canada goose, Torrey Ward, Manitoba, Canada. Carved in the style of George Warin. Painted on underside is “LTW Oak Lake Shooting Club, Brandon Manitoba, Canada.” Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

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15. Preening swan, Frank Finney, Capeville, Maryland. Unsigned. Several coats of paint; age split in underside.

(1,500 - 2,500) 16.

17.

Large American merganser drake, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Slightly turned and lifted head. Relief wing carving with relief carved wingtips and fluted tail. Signed “Right out of my rig, Keith Mueller 10/94.” Near mint original paint; slight discoloration on white areas.

(800 - 1,200) Oversize eider drake, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Signed, “From my personal gunning rig,

Keith Mueller, 1994.” Turned head and detailed feather carving. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents.

(800 - 1,200) 18.

Eider drake with mussel in mouth, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. “Mueller” brand in underside. In content pose with slightly turned head and carved crossed wingtips. Excellent and original.

(800 - 1,200)

19.

Oversize scoter with mussel in mouth, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Signed and dated 1994.

Carved, crossed wingtips and slightly turned head. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 19

Virginia Shorebirds

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20. Rare greater yellowlegs, Charles Clark, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1900. Wide paddle tail, ridged back, and beetle head style. Original paint with minor discoloration on white areas; slight wear on front of neck; wear to paint on bill.

20 Detail

21 Detail

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Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1981.

(8,000 - 12,000)

21.

Exceptional lesser yellowlegs, Charles Clark, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1900. Wide paddle tail and ridged back. Very strong original paint with a small worn area on one edge of bill; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Mort Hanson, Sr. in 1974. Exhibited by William Mackey, Jr. in St. Paul, Minnesota. (6,500 - 9,500)

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23

22 Detail

22.

Yellowlegs, Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1900. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint with minor wear; approximately 2/3 of bill is missing.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1969 via a trade with Bill Mackey.

(6,500 - 9,500)

23.

Black bellied plover from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, circa 1900. Unusual form with carved eyes and relief

23 Detail

wing carving. Original paint with minor wear; moderate wear on top back just behind neck; bill is a professional replacement; minor roughness near one eye and stick hole.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Mackey in 1971.

Literature: “Shorebirds Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 55, exact decoy. “American Bird Decoys,.” William Mackey, plate 131, rigmates pictured.

(5,000 - 7,000) 21

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24 Detail 24.

Plover with turned head, from the Burton Family, Burton Bay, Virginia. Large “WB” carved under tail for William Burton. Relief wing carving with “V” carved wingtips. In winter plumage. Worn original paint; bill is an old replacement; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Written on the underside in Bill Mackey’s handwriting, “BB plover fall or juvenile, Burton Family Burton Bay, Virginia”. Acquired at the Bourne auction in 1976.

(3,000 - 4,000)

25. Yellowlegs from Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1900. Original paint with minor wear; hairline crack in 22

25 Detail one side of head; small crack in breast.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in the Mackey sale number 5, 1974, Mackey collection stamp on underside.

(3,000 - 4,000)

26.

Dowitcher from Chincoteague, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Scratch feather paint. Original paint with moderate wear; shallow chips missing from top head; small chip missing from top of bill; lightly hit by shot; hairline surface crack in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Clarke Reed in 1976.

(3,000 - 4,000)

A guide on Cobb Island with a reputation for being strong enough to crush clamshells in each hand, John Haff is also credited with making beautiful shorebirds.

In an article written by Sam Dyke he described Haff’s decoys as, “having a bold, vigorous quality, perhaps reflecting the character of the maker.”

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27 Detail

27.

Very rare running dowitcher, Captain John Haff, Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Carved eyes. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; eyes appear to have a little touchup; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in a trade from Somers Headly in 1980. Headly acquired it from Richard l. Paris, Eastville, Virginia, in 1950.

27 Detail

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 160.

(12,000 - 15,000)

23

Pacific Coast Horace or “Hi” Crandall was born in Ashaway, RI in 1892 and then moved to “The Point” in Benecia, CA in 1917, taking a job as a ferry boat engineer, carrying trains across Sacramento River before bridges were built.

He made his first decoys while in Benecia – all of which were were lost in a fire.

He moved to Oakland, CA in 1931, taking employment as a ferry boat operator/engineer. In 1933, he moved again to Westwood on Lake Almanor in the far northeastern part of the state where he worked for Red River Lumber Co. It is here he made the decoys that collectors covet, and that is the location we associate with him. He sold decoys locally and through San Francisco Sporting Goods (Phillips Sporting Goods).

Hi displayed his decoy carvings at the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island, midway between San Francisco and Oakland.

He later moved to Los Angeles in 1942 and worked at Douglass Aircraft until 1953. This is where he carved most, if not all, of the miniatures.

28 Detail

28 Detail

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28 Detail

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Extremely rare pair of greenwing teal, Horace Crandall, Westwood, California, circa 1930s. Both have relief wing carving with extended tips. Original paint with minor wear; crack in underside of drake, otherwise structurally very good.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Dr. James McCleery, McCleery collection stamp on undersides. Lot 13 in Guyette & Schmidt/Sotheby’s auction catalog, January 2000.

Literature: “Call to the Sky,” Robert Shaw, p. 117, exact decoys. “Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson, p. 362.

(27,500 - 32,500) 25

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Maryland

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32

33

34

29.

Pintail hen with slightly lifted bill. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; small crack at neck base.

(500 - 800)

30.

Canvasback drake, similar to the work of Richard Janson, Sonoma Creek, California. Gray area is original paint that has darkened with age, the rest has old repaint; crack through neck; reglued crack in bill.

(650 - 950)

31.

Bluebill drake from Crisfield, Maryland, 2nd quarter 20th century. Incised wingtip carving. Written on underside is “1929, Fred Young. By Ward Family” Original paint with minor wear; thin crack through bill.

(800 - 1,200)

32. Coot, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Branded “JEB”. Retains McGaw dogbone 26

weight. Original paint with slight wear; chip missing from underside of bill; crack through neck.

Provenance: Hanley collection.

33.

Pair of oversize canvasbacks, Stanley Evans, Elkton, Maryland, 3rd quarter 20th century. “Norris Pratt, Kemblesville” is written in pencil on underside of one, and the pair is believed to have been in his collection. Old in use repaint; weights have been removed; each has a thin crack through neck.

(950 - 1,250)

34.

Bufflehead drake. Plump body with lifted tail. May have been originally painted as a ruddy duck and it does look like it may have been made in North Carolina. Old in use repaint; large piece missing out of lower side.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1966 Somerset County, Maryland.

(600 - 900)

(800 - 1,200)

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36

35.

Pair of canvasbacks, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both have the Ward Foundation 1987 Smithsonian exhibit sticker on the underside. Near mint original paint; slight discoloration on white areas of drake; both decoys appear to have never been used; hairline crack in one side of hen from before four small nails were put in this area before this decoy was painted.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell, Purnell brand in underside.

(4,000 - 6,000)

36.

Canvasback hen and drake, James Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1900. Drake has brass tag on underside that reads “John McKeag, Darby, PA.” Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; several thin cracks in hen’s body; small chips in underside of hen where tie strap was removed.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Drake acquired from Davison Hawthorne 1978. Hen acquired in 2005 from Ward Museum gift shop.

(4,000 - 6,000) 27

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38

39

40

41

42

37.

Canvasback hen, Taylor Boyd, Perryville, Maryland, 1st quarter 19th century. Appealing old in use repaint

by Boyd; structurally very good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1976 from Clark Reed.

(800 - 1,200)

38.

Flat bottom style widgeon drake, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. With McGaw dogbone weight. Original paint with minor wear; thin crack through neck; cracks in underside.

39.

28

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1989 Julia/Guyette decoy auction. Formerly in Somers G. Headly collection, who acquired from Eugene Pond.

Stamped “SGH” on underside.

(1,250 - 1,750) Bluebill drake, Joe Dye, Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1900. Richard Anderson brand on underside, Middle River, Baltimore County, Maryland. Original paint with minor wear on most of decoy; moderate wear on breast; hit by shot on one side of head; small cracks in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Henry Fleckenstein in 1979.

(1,250 - 1,750)

40.

Widgeon drake, Captain Ed Phillips, Cambridge, Maryland. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; long thin tail chip missing; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1967.

(1,500 - 2,500)

41. Large black duck, Will Heverin, Charlestown, Maryland, 1st quarter 19th century. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1980.

(950 - 1,250)

42.

Canvasback drake, John “Daddy” Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Inset weight. Branded “CTVS” and “WHW” and “RAME”. Old in use repaint with traces of original showing; long thin chip missing from one side of bill; small cracks and shot marks.

(800 - 1,200)

John “Daddy” Holly

1852 - 1927 Havre de Grace, Maryland A rigmate to this cavasback can be seen on page 57 of “Decoys at the Shelburne Museum”. The booklet states that the decoys were used a the Currituck Club, Poplar Branch, North Carolina.

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43 Detail

43 Detail

43.

Exceptional and very rare canvasback drake, John “Daddy” Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Branded “T DOWS”. Carved eyes and inset strip weight. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear, wear is mostly on one side; several tiny dents and shot marks; barely noticeable surface crack in back near wingtips.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from John Hillman at the Virginia Beach show in 1977. Used at the Currituck Club, Poplar Branch, North Carolina, see decoys at Shelburne museum p. 57.

(8,000 - 12,000)

29

44. Very rare preening canvasback drake, Chauncey Reynolds, North East, Maryland. Appealing old in use repaint; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Mildred Reynolds, Chauncey’s granddaughter, in 1988. (2,000 - 3,000)

45.

Canvasback hen and drake, Sam Barnes, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; three hairline cracks partway through drake’s neck; rubs on underside of drake.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1966.

(3,000 - 5,000)

46.

Canvasback hen and drake, Will Heverin, Chestertown, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. Both are branded “WP” Original paint with very little wear; minor discoloration on white areas of drake.

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Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1985. Formerly in the collections of W. Prescott, Dr. Edgar Burke, and Eugene Conett.

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Literature: “Duck Shooting Along the Atlantic Flyway,” Eugene Conett, p. 123, exact decoy (hen).

(2,500 - 3,500) 47. Pintail drake, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Good form. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on center of back; slight separation at neck seam.

47 30

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Tom George in 1986.

(2,500 - 3,500)

John Glenn

1876 - 1924 Rock Hall, Maryland

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48 Detail 48.

48 Detail

Extremely rare working swan decoy, Captain John Glenn, Rock Hall, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. Balsa body with pieces doweled together, cedar neck. Old in use repaint that is flaking and worn; some separation at seams in balsa; professional repair to a crack in the neck, x-ray available.

Provenance: Purchased directly from Glenn by the Consignor’s father Literature: “Decoys of Mid Atlantic Region,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 142.

(9,500 - 12,500) 31

Delbert “Cigar” Daisey Chincoteague, Virginia

Born in 1928 on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, Cigar, along with his two brothers, followed the footsteps of his father, Herbert, a decoy carver, market gunner and waterman who made a living off the land.

After graduating high school in 1945, Cigar was making more money than most of the elders on the island doing what he truly loved, trapping, which included fur bearing animals and ducks. Times were different then and game laws were not as strictly enforced as they would eventually become. In truth, these were exciting times for Cigar and one could probably write an entire novel about his brushes with the game enforcement officers.

Cigar eventually turned his efforts to carving and other more mainstream occupations, which included finding and selling decoys for Bill Mackey in the mid-1950s. Learning that there was increasing interest for both old and contemporary decoys, Cigar was quick to capitalize on both. Over the next several decades, Cigar fine-tuned

Cigar Daisey at left one of three judges of the Greater Snow Goose Decoy Carvers Contest 1975.

his reputation as a decoy carver, where he both judged and competed in carving competitions up and down the East Coast. One highlight was winning three first place awards, one of which was best of show, in a single World Championship contest sponsored by the Ward Foundation.

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49.

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Large black bellied plover, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Singed, “Made for Norris Pratt, Delbert Cigar Daisey.” Relief wing carving and turned head. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(500 - 800)

50. Yellowlegs, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virgin32

ia. Branded and signed. Relief wing carving with extended tips. Very good and original.

(400 - 600) 51. Merganser hen, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Cigar brand in underside. Slightly turned and lifted head. Original paint with moderate shrinkage, mostly on breast.

(350 - 550)

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55

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56 52. Pair of redheads, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Both are branded Cigar. Both have slightly turned heads. Drake has a crack in the underside, otherwise very good and original.

(1,200 - 1,500) 53.

54.

Pair of mergansers, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Both have turned heads. Hen’s is slightly lifted.

Both are branded “Cigar” and inscribed “Made for R Chatham”. Very good and original.

(1,200 - 1,500) Working brant, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1960s. Unsigned. In swimming pose with relief wingtip carving. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; a couple of worn spots on the sides; several dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1980.

(650 - 950)

55. Bluebill drake, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded, signed, and dated 1972, “Made for Richard Chatham.” Relief wing carving, carved primaries and secondaries, and fluted tail. Winner best of species at the Davenport, Iowa and Babylon, New York shows in the early 1970s. Excellent and original.

(1,200 - 1,500) 56. Decorative brant, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded “Cigar”. Finely carved, crossed primaries and secondaries. Carved tail. Head is slightly turned. Excellent and original.

Provenance: Best of species winner at the Ward Foundation Show in the mid 1970s.

(1,750 - 2,250)

57. Bufflehead drake, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded Cigar. Slightly turned head. Detailed wingtip carving and fluted tail. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(650 - 950) 33

Miniatures

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60

61

62

63

64

65

58.

Very rare miniature canvasback drake, Ben Dye, circa 1870s. Approximately 5” long. Original paint with good patina and minor wear, mostly on one side of breast; structurally good.

(1,750 - 2,250)

59.

Pair of miniature woodcocks with chick , AJ King, North Scituate, Rhode Island. Signed on base. Very good and original.

(900 - 1,200)

60.

Large redhead drake miniature, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Old bill repair; otherwise very good and original.

(650 - 950)

61.

Miniature Canada goose, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire. Slightly turned head. Original paint with moderate shrinkage, structurally good.

(800 - 1,200)

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62.

Pair of miniature canvasbacks, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Very good and original.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

63.

Pair of 1/4 size pintails, carved in the style of the Ward Brothers by R.Y. Taggart, Elkton, Maryland. Signed and dated 1953. Both have slightly turned heads. Original and good.

(350 - 450)

(800 - 1,200)

64. 1/4 size black duck, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Approximately 8” long. Very good and original.

(300 - 500) 65.

Miniature merganser drake, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. Approximately 5 1/2” long. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

(400 - 600)

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66.

67.

68.

70

69A

Pair of miniature ringneck pheasants, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Traces of Crowell’s circular ink stamp on underside. Cock pheasant is over 5” long. Hen has carved dropped wings. Very good and original.

(3,500 - 5,500) Miniature Canada goose, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s “AE Crowell and Son” blue paper label on underside. Very good and original.

(1,750 - 2,250) Miniature hooded merganser drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Traces of Crowell’s ink stamp on underside. Very good and original.

(1,250 - 1,750)

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Miniature bluebill drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Very good and original.

(1,200 - 1,500)

69A. Feeding canvasback drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp in the underside. Very good and original.

(1,250 - 1,750) 70.

Miniature Canada goose, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. On large chip carved base with Crowell’s rectangular stamp in the underside. Stands approximately 5” tall. Very good and original.

(1,750 - 2,250)

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New England Charles “Shang” Wheeler 1872 - 1949 Stratford, Connecticut

Considered by some to be the finest gunning pair of Shang Wheeler decoys. The paper label glued to the underside indicates that these decoys won first prize in the National Sportsmen Show held in New York City in 1948. However, it is more likely that the number 38 taped to the breast on the hen represents the competition entry number from a much earlier show in Bellport, NY. This would also be more consistent with the decoy’s age. Based on the patina and carving characteristics, it’s more likely Wheeler carved and used them in the 1920s.

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In 1923 Shang Wheeler, for the first time, entered the amateur category of the Bellport, Long Island decoy carving contest and he won first place. One of the show organizers was Joel Barber, the first great collector, author and historian of decoys. Barber was also a gifted carver and painter. Barber commented, on Wheeler’s winning mallard, “it represents the highest development yet reached in the American art of decoy carving”.

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71 Detail

71.

Important rigmate pair of cedar working old squaw decoys, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut, circa 1920s. Drake is in rare preening pose and has inserted metal tail feathers. Hen has slightly turned head. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; tiny chip missing from one side of hen’s bill nail.

Provenance: William J. Mackey collection. By descent through the family. Purchased

by Bill Mackey in the 1960s. Mackey collection stamp on undersides. Old label on underside reads that they were prize a winning pair at the New York Sportsman Show.

Literature: “American Bird Decoys,” William Mackey, Jr., p. 70.

38

(95,000 - 125,000)

71 Detail

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72

73

74

75

76

72.

Rare hollow carved mallard drake, Willard Baldwin, Stratford, Connecticut. Carved in the 1950s as a copy of an Albert Laing decoy. Branded “WCB”. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Mallar collection. Formerly in collection of Henry Chitwood, Greenwich, Connecticut, Chitwood collection stamp on underside.

(650 - 950)

73.

Goldeneye drake from Connecticut, 1st quarter 20th century. Highly detailed feather carving on entire upper half of the decoy. Original paint protected by an old coat of varnish on most of the decoy; white patches on head appear to be a second coat; several small tail chips missing; old touchup on head and bill.

(650 - 950)

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74.

Large “Monhegan Island” style scoter, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine. Inlet head, carved eyes, and relief wing carving. Appealing old in use paint; numerous cracks and dents.

(1,000 - 1,400)

75.

Large eider drake, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine. Hollow carved. Inlet head carved eyes and relief wing carving. Appealing old in use repaint; minor denting.

(1,000 - 1,400)

76.

Hollow carved Canada goose, Charles R. Wells, Stratford, Connecticut, circa 1950. Branded “CRW” four times in the underside. Original and good. (600 -900)

This exact decoy along with a few geese, bluebills and other black ducks were found in the 1970’s by Joe Tonelli. Joe ran an ad in the Cleveland, Ohio area and received a response from a lady who told him that her late husband had been the mayor in a town outside of Stratford, Connecticut. She remembered that he had hunted with a very high profile gentleman from Stratford, who made the decoys, but could not remember his name.

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77.

Working black duck decoy, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut, circa 1930s. Slightly turned head. Original paint with good detail and minor wear.

Literature: “Shang,” Dixon Merkt, p. 129.

(6,500 - 9,500)

77 Detail

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78 Detail 78.

Exceptional pair of redheads, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut. Both have relief wing carvings and slightly turned heads and very fine, subtle paint detail. Both decoys are a little large, approximately 15” long and 7 1/4” wide. Very good and original with good patina.

Provenance: From a group of decoys exhibited at the New York City Sportsmans Shows in the 1940s in Wheeler’s estate. Purchased by neighbors of Wheeler’s and donated to the Connecticut Audubon Society for its birdcraft museum in Fairfield. They were deaccessioned in 1983.

Literature: “Shang,” Dixon Merkt, pp. 213 and 214, exact decoys.

78 Detail 42

(30,000 - 40,000)

From a group of decoys exhibited at the New York City Sportsmans Show in 1948, all of which were eventually donated to the Connecticut Audubon Society for its birdcraft museum in Fairfield. They were deaccessioned in 1983.

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78 Detail

Albert Laing

1811 - 1886 Stratford, Connecticut and New York, New York

Identified by decoy historian Ron Swanson as the “classic period”, this sleeping scoter exhibits the fine characteristics of Laing most skilled output.

The large “Laing” brand burned into the underside at an angle, the first use of cut copper nails in his decoys, body seams that are above the water line and the bold spade shaped tails, which minimized breakage. All of these features display the traits of a seasoned decoy maker. They were likely designed to be used in deep water.

After reading Laing’s hunting journals, Swanson believes “the classics” were made between 1840 and 1850. This was the first time scoters showed up in Laing’s gunning rig. They were likely made for shooting the waters just east of New York City.

79 Detail

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79 Detail

79 Detail

79. Important preening scoter, Albert Laing, Stratford, Connecticut and New York, New York, 3rd quarter 19th century. Hollow carved with Laing brand in underside. Appealing old in use repaint by Tom Marshall; structurally very good.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of pioneer decoy collector Tom Marshall, Stratford, Connecticut. Collection label on underside.

Literature: Richard Oliver auction catalog, November 1986, lot 228, exact decoy pictured.

Also pictured on catalog cover. (30,000 - 40,000)

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Delaware River

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81

82

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84 80.

Rare goldeneye drake, John English, Florence, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. One of only 6 goldeneye drakes known to have been made by English. Old working repaint; a few small dents.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Somers G. Headly, Headly collection stamp in underside.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 257, rigmate pictured.

(1,250 - 1,750) 81.

Black duck, Jack English, Florence, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Old repaint in use; two surface cracks in one side of head.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of John Hillman, Hillman collection stamp on underside. Lot 187 in the 1996 April Guyette & Schmidt decoy auction.

Literature: “Decoys of the Mid Atlantic Region,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 64, exact decoy. “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, p. 189, exact decoy. (1,000 - 1,500) 82. Pair of mallards, Joseph Morgan, Tullytown, Pennsylvania. Both have raised, carved wingtips. Weights are stamps “wcavan, Levittown, PA.” Original paint with almost no wear; hen has small dent on one wing and numerous tiny specs of off white paint on wing and tail area.

(1,500 - 2,000) 46

85 83.

Hollow carved Philadelphia School mallard drake, last quarter 19th century. Body halves are joined with two dowels. Branded “J. Chandler Roach”. Original paint with minor wear; professional paint restoration by Mark McNair; small crack in one side; lightly hit by shot; small thin chip missing where nail was added to back of neck base.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(900 - 1,200)

84. Mallard hen, Charles Allen, Bordentown, New Jersey. Allen’s ID is stamped into the weight. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint with good detail and very minor wear; structurally very good.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, p. 12.

(800 - 1,200) 85.

Bluebill hen, John English, Florence, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. From the Kemble rig, branded “WA Kemble”. Paint was restored a long time ago in the style of John Dawson; a few small dents.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 240, exact decoy.

(800 - 1,200)

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87

86 Detail

86.

87.

Very rare black duck in preening pose, William Quinn, Yardley, Pennsylvania. Bill is buried in feathers. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Crack in one eye, otherwise very good and original.

(4,000 - 5,000) Black duck, Dan English, Florence, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Good feather paint detail. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Near mint original paint; tiny chip

87 Detail

missing from top of one tail feather.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of John Hillman, Seagirt, New Jersey, Hillman collection stamp on underside. Also two of John’s paper labels.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 189, exact decoy.

(4,000 - 6,000)

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Paintings 88

88

89

90 88.

89.

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89

92

91 Two oil paintings, William Harlander. Dated 1930 and signed. Each measures 29” x 24”. One image depicts man and woman fighting a fish in a birch bark canoe. Second image is a hunter duck hunting from a marsh with mallards in flight overhead. Harlander was an illustrator for the Tuco puzzle company. Several of his images were used on post cards.

These paintings were found in a cabin in upstate New York and have been professionally framed.

(1,200 - 1,500) Two oil on canvases of race horses. One is signed “JNO Hodge, 1904.” Image sizes approximately 15.5” x 19”.

Both in original frames with metal plaques; for single horse “Lo Dillinos by M.E.Sanders 1.59 1/2”. The other reads “Crescius-Ketchum, the Abot-Ed Geers. 2.03” Two short tears in one painting, otherwise original and good.

(1,000 - 1,500)

90.

Oil on canvas of ducks flying into coastal marsh, 1st quarter 20th century. Image size approximately 13.5” x 21.5”. All original, protected by an old coat of varnish; no crazing.

(300 - 400)

91.

Watercolor of Canada geese landing in decoys, David Hagerbaumer. Signed. Professionally matted and framed.

Image size 8 1/2” x 11”. Very good and original.

(500 - 700)

92.

Two watercolors of shorebirds, J.L. Reardon. Painted after paintings by Robert Verity Clem. Included is the book “Shorebirds,” Somers Headly and John Levinson.

Professionally matted and framed. Images size approximately 13” x 16”. Paintings very good; frames good.

(600 - 900)

93.

”The Evening Drink,” a well executed oil on canvas, George Roetig, 1873 - 1971. Known for his animal and landscape paintings. This piece was probably done around 1920. Pictures four moose approaching a water hole for an evening drink. Measures 31” x 25”.

Signed “GF Roetig” in the lower right. Which was published in early calendar illustrations. A print of this illustration is included. Appears to have been professionally cleaned; two repairs evident at back of canvas with small areas of in-painting around the edge and sky.

(2,000 - 3,000)

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94.

Oil on board of flying bluebills, Dr. Edgar Burke. Signed. Image size approximately 12” x 16”. Inscribed on back is “Painted by Edgar Burke,” with another inscription by Lynn Bouge Hunt. Very small amount of discoloration under lowest duck, otherwise very good and original.

Literature: “Duck Shooting Along the Atlantic Tide,” Eugene Connett, frontpiece of book, exact painting.

(1,750 - 2,250)

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95.

Gauche on paper, Lynn Bouge Hunt. Rough sketch of mallards landing in decoys with hunter in background. Signed. Image size approximately 17.5” x 21.5”. (1,500 - 2,500)

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Charlie Joiner

1921 - 2015 Chestertown, maryland

96

97

98

99

100

101

96. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of sleeping canvasbacks, signed and dated 1987, accompanied by a pair of 1/3 size canvasbacks signed and dated 1972. Very good and original.

(1,200 - 1,600) 97.

98.

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Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of mallards signed and dated, accompanied by pair of 1/4 size mallards signed and dated 1972. Slight separation at a defect in wood in one side of full size hen; otherwise very good and original.

(1,200 - 1,600) Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of flat bottom style wood ducks accompanied by a pair of 1/3 size wood ducks. Full size signed and dated 1985. 1/3 size signed and dated 1983. Very small amount of paint shrinkage on wood duck hens; structurally good.

(1,200 - 1,600)

99. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Flat bottom pintail hen and drake signed, pair of 1/3 size pintails, signed and dated 1983. Very good and original.

(1,200 - 1,600) 100. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of flat bottom greenwing teal, signed and 1/3 size greenwing teal signed and dated 1972. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400) 101. Four Items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of black ducks accompanied by pair of 1/3 black ducks. 1/3 size are signed and dated 1985. Each full size black duck has a small area on underside where some of the paint has been rubbed away so the signature is more visible.

(1,000 - 1,400)

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102

105

104

106

102.

Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of flat bottom style greenwing teal accompanied by a pair of half size greenwing teal. All have turned heads and are signed. 1/2 size teal are dated 1983. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400)

103.

Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of ringbills signed and dated 1997 accompanied by 1/3 size pair of ringbills signed and dated 1982. Very minor wear; otherwise original and good.

(1,000 - 1,400)

104. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of redheads signed and dated 1990 accompanied by 1/3 size redheads 1972. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400)

107

105. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of goldeneye flat bottom, signed, and 1/3 size pair goldeneye signed and dated 1987. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400) 106. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of bluebills, signed and dated 1986, and pair of 1/3 size bluebills, signed and dated 1972. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400) 107. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of canvasbacks accompanied by pair of 1/3 size canvasbacks, Bill Joiner, signed and dated 1983. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400)

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The Cobb Family

Cobb Island, Virginia

A gunning party on a sailing vessel off of Cobb Island in 1892. Elkanah is seated second from left

About 1835 Nathan Cobb, Sr., and his family left Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to find a warmer climate for his ailing wife. Sailing south along the Atlantic coast, the Cobbs reached the town of Oyster on Virginia’s Eastern Shore and settled there, opening a general store. As a seafarer and shipbuilder, Nathan Cobb was drawn to the barrier islands along the oceanfront, and in time he purchased one, then known as Sand Shoal, to serve as a base for his business of salvaging ships driven onto the shoals by storms. The strong winds and tides of the area not only benefited his salvage business, but also caused his island to grow in size from the deposition of sand from offshore.

The island, now known as Cobb Island, attracted large numbers of migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds, and the elder Cobb and his sons, Nathan, J. Warren and Albert became market hunters, shipping their game to cities along the coast. As the fame of Cobb’s Island hunting spread, sportsmen hired the Cobb’s as

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guides and by the 1870s a hotel and several cabins had been built to accommodate the hunters and their families who came in the summer to enjoy the sea breezes and ocean bathing.

The relentless winds and tides still ruled the island, and beginning in 1893, a succession of disastrous storms overran Cobb’s Island taking the land, the buildings and finally the life of George Cobb, the last of the family remaining on the island.

Among the few things remaining from this period of Cobb’s Island history are some remarkable hunting decoys – geese, brant, ducks and shorebirds that were carried or perhaps drifted to the mainland after the storms. Using spars and lumber salvaged from wrecked ships, the Cobbs had fashioned sturdy, lifelike decoys.

Many of their brant and goose decoys had heads and necks in graceful feeding or swimming poses, carved from naturally curved tree roots or branches found washed up on the island beaches. These decoys are highly prized by collectors - one of Nathan Cobb, Jr.’s hollow carved swimming brant sold at auction recently for $132,000.

On October 2, 1998, The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art presented a landmark exhibit of Cobb’s Island decoys, artifacts and other items relating to this fascinating period of Cobb’s Island history.

From the desk of Sam Dyke, eventually published in the Ward Museum magazine.

Guide on Cobb Island setting out Cobb shorebird decoys in preparation for a hunt, circa 1890

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Nathan Cobb, Jr.

1825 - 1905 Cobb Island, Virginia 108 Detail

108. Hollow carved swimming brant, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Raised “V” wingtip carving and shoe button eyes. From the hunting rig of Elkanah Cobb, “E.B. Cobb” brand on underside. Worn old paint with some original showing; numerous cracks; large chip missing from front of neck base; piece of cork was added there a long time ago as a working repair.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1975. “P” brand in underside.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 186.

108 Detail

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(35,000 - 55,000)

108 Detail

108

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109 Detail

109 Detail 109 Detail

109 Detail

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109

109. Large black duck, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia. Inlet head, glass eyes, and raised “V” wingtip carving. Small “N” carved in underside. Old in use repaint with traces of original showing on head; numerous cracks and shot marks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Mackey in 1971.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 197.

(15,000 - 20,000)

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110

111

110.

Rigmate pair of mergansers, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; bill chip repair on drake.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1966 in Dagsboro, Delaware.

(3,000 - 5,000)

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111. Rigmate pair of hooded mergansers, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Drake has solid crest, hen has tined crest. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; end of top crest missing on hen; hen has fairly large crack in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1968.

(4,000 - 6,000)

112

113

112. Rare mallard hen, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Ice dip behind head. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; age split in underside.

113.

Rare rigmate pair of pintails, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Both decoys have two coats of paint by Hudson; moderate wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Mort Hanson, Sr. in 1975. Formerly in the collection of Brodie Henson.

(3,000 - 5,000)

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(3,000 - 4,000)

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Elkanah Cobb

1852 - 1943 Cobb Island, Virginia

114 Detail

114 Detail

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114.

Rare hollow carved redhead, Elkanah Cobb, Cobb Island, Virginia. “EB COBB” brand in underside. Inlet head and raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint with minor wear; small cracks in one side; minor discoloration on the other side.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bud Ward and Ted Gleyseen in 1972.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 195.

(20,000 - 30,000)

114

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115 Detail

115 Detail

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115.

Hollow carved brant, Elkanah Cobb, Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Large serifed “E” carved in the underside. Raised “V” wingtip carving, carved eyes, and inserted hardwood bill. Worn original paint with some areas of old repaint; two chips missing at neck base; small chip missing from top of bill; holes at neck base where screws have come out; small cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Tom Winstel in 1976.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 189. (17,500 - 22,500)

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116

117

118

119

120 116.

Black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Good scratch paint detail. Original paint that has faded somewhat; minor wear; a few small dents; shallow chip missing from one side of tail; several small cracks in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Guy Windsor in 1969.

(1,500 - 2,000)

117. Hollow carved bluebill drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Fluted tail and ice dip behind neck. Cottonwood head. Original paint with moderate wear; small cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Wor. House in 1980.

(1,000 - 1,500)

118. Rare pair of redheads, Charles Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. Both are hollow carved. Old in use repaint; worn to the original in some areas; two small rough spots on drake.

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Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Richard Conway in 1973.

(1,000 - 1,400)

121 119. Hollow carved Canada goose thought to have been made by Ben Rue, Locustville, Virginia. Slightly turned head. “Barron” brand on back and side. Appealing old in use repaint; small chip missing from one side of bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in a trade with Somers Headly in 1982. “SGH” is stamped several times in underside.

(1,200 - 1,400)

120. Black duck, John Henry Downes, Northhampton County, Virginia. “JHD” carved in underside. Worn original paint; cracks in neck; separations at seams.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Roy Bull in 1972. Roy Bull collection brand in underside.

(1,250 - 1,750)

121. Pintail hen and drake, Miles Hancock, Chincoteague, Virginia. Good scratch paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Tom George in 1986.

(1,250 - 1,750)

122

123

124

125 122. Solid body black duck, John Henry Downes, Northhampton County, Virginia. Worn old paint appears to be original; cracks and touchup on neck and back of head; second coat of paint on bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from William J. Mackey in 1971.

(3,000 - 5,000)

123.

Hollow carved black duck, Charles Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Appealing old in use repaint; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Amos Waterfield in 1970.

(1,500 - 2,000)

124.

Solid body Canada goose, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia. Appealing old in use repaint; structurally good.

126

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Guy Windsor in 1965.

(2,000 - 3,000)

125.

Brant, Miles Hancock, Chincoteague, Virginia. Cottonwood construction. Near mint original paint, never used.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Joe Short in 1965.

(1,000 - 1,500)

126.

Hollow carved black duck, Charles Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with good scratch feather paint detail and minor to moderate wear; short cracks in breast; a few small dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from William Purnell in 1982.

(1,000 - 1,400) 65

Midwest Ben Schmidt

1884 - 1968 Detroit, Michigan 127.

Greenwing teal drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Sticker on underside indicates made in 1955. Raised split wing over tail. Near mint.

(2,000 - 3,000)

127 128. Bluewing teal drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1950. Slightly turned head and good feather stamping and tail carving. Near mint.

(2,000 - 3,000)

128 129. Widgeon drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Signed and dated 1958. Hollow with bottom board and slightly turned head. Near mint.

(1,500 - 1,800)

129 130. Pintail hen, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Signed and dated 1958. Original paint with very slight wear; small dent in edge of tail.

(1,200 - 1,500)

130 66

131

132

131. Rare pair of wood ducks, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Sticker on underside indicates made in 1953.

Raised split tail on hen. Near mint.

(5,000 - 8,000)

132. Rare snow goose, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Fairly simple carving style with no wingtip or tail carving. Original paint with very minor wear; small cracks in back.

(3,000 - 4,000)

67

William Shaw 1849 - 1927 Lacon, Illinois

First Peoria Arms Co. store setup, Peoria, Illinois, circa 1890. Portman family archives

Born in Durham County, England, Shaw came to America when he was seven, landing in New Orleans. The family then traveled up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers by steamboat to Lacon, where “Billy� spent the remainder of his life. He was a brick mason by trade but also worked as a painter, boat maker and later a sheriff. He is know to have made mallards, pintails, bluebills and a few teal.

He carved in a style that became characteristic of the Lacon region.

133 Detail

133 Detail

68

133. Important greenwing teal hen, William Shaw, Lacon, Illinois, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with good detail; minor shrinkage on one lower side as well as a few very small rubs; weight has been removed.

Provenance: Originally owned by Charles l. Portman, son of Peter Portman, co-founder of the Peoria Arms Company. Consigned by a member of the Portman Family.

Literature: “Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois,” Paul Parmalee and Forrest Loomis, p.

292. “Hunting and Fishing Collectibles Magazine,” July/August 2015, p. 54, exact decoy.

(12,000 - 15,000)

133

69

134

135

136

137

138

139

134. Mallard hen, Hector Whittington, Oglesby Illinois. ID’ed and dated 1969 on underside. Slightly turned head. Good paint detail. Near mint original paint; structurally very good.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(700 - 900)

135. Pair of mallards, Hector Whittington, Oglesby, Illinois. Signed and dated 1980. Both have slightly turned heads and drake has tail sprig. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400) 136.

Bluebill drake from Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, circa 1930s. Original paint with moderate wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Clarene and Bud Menzel. Their collection label is on the underside.

(500 - 800)

70

137. Redhead drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Slightly turned head. Near mint original paint; professional bill repair.

(500 - 800) 138. Pair of canvasbacks, Virgil Lashbrook, Pekin, Illinois. Both have Lashbrook’s stamp in the underside.

Drake is marked, “Made for Bill Bauer 1969”. Both have slightly turned heads. Near mint original paint; structurally very good.

(600 - 900) 139. Hollow carved goldeneye hen from Ohio, last quarter 19th century. Hollow carved with shoe button eyes.

Approximately 12” long. Old in use repaint as a goldeneye hen; hit by shot; thin crack in underside.

Provenance: Found at Lake Champlain in Vermont.

Vermont Folk Life collection.

(400 - 600)

139A

139B

139A. Mallard drake, Fred Allen, Monmouth, Illinois last quarter 19th century. Original paint with good detail and minor wear; lightly hit by shot.

Literature: “Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois,� Paul Parmalee and Forest Loomis, p. 153.

(3,750 - 4,250)

139B. Bluebill drake from the Carriage House rig, Lake Villa, Illinois. Hollow carved with relief wing carving.

Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; lightly hit by shot.

(2,500 - 3,500)

71

139C. Early bluebill drake from Ohio, last quarter 19th century. Two piece body with shoulder carving. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; crack through neck; lightly hit by shot; paint on parts of head has been strengthened; two square nails remain in the underside from where the tie strap was attached.

139C

Provenance: At one time owned by Bill Staplin. His tag is on the underside.

(2,000 - 3,000)

139D. High neck style canvasback drake, Jack Eppel, Peoria, Illinois. Comb and feather paint detail. “ALA� is carved into the weight indicating it is from the hunting rig of Andy Anderson. Original paint with slight discoloration and wear; half of one glass eye is missing. (1,500 - 2,500)

139D

139E

139F

139E. Pair of bluebills, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit Michigan. Standard grade with glass eyes. From the Barron rig, Barron brand on top and one side of each. A mixture of original and old repaint; moderate wear; age split in underside of hen; neck filler replaced on both; small cracks and shot marks.

72

Provenance: Hanley collection.

(500 - 800)

139F. Rare merganser drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Standard grade with tack eyes. Original paint with minor to moderate wear on black areas; old repaint on white areas; most of the neck filler is missing; small dents.

(300 - 500)

140. Mallard drake, Charles Walker, Princeton, Illinois. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; crack through neck; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Earl Poegemuller.

(3,250 - 3,750)

140

141. Bluebill drake, Gus Moak, Tustin, Wisconsin. Hollow carved with slightly turned head. Original paint with good detail and minor wear; small dents in back.

(2,500 - 3,500)

141

142. Mallard hen, Robert Elliston, Bureau, Illinois. His earlier round body style, circa 1880. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; crack through neck; shallow chip missing from one side of bill; weight is missing; lightly hit by shot.

(1,250 - 1,750)

142 73

Decoratives Tan, Jett, and Jude Brunet From Galliano, Louisiana, a small community in the southern part of Lafourche Parish, Mr. Brunet is known as the “Cajun Carver.”

Growing up in one of the country’s best duck hunting areas and taking full advantage of the opportunity, he hunted extensively and became very knowledgeable about the waterfowl he pursued. In 1984 at the age of 45, Tan had accomplished legendary achievements including five world championships in less than a decade including many best of shows.

One of Tan’s carving disciplines was taught to him by Jan, Tan and Jett Brunet with 1982 World Champion Pair of Green Wing Teal.

John Scheeler, “there is power in simplicity.” Tan believes that simple, peaceful and comfortable looking types of decoys remain beautiful forever. Preening and stretching are not comfortable positions, and these acts soon become tiring to the viewer and collector.

Tan’s two sons, Jett and Jude, are also award winning competition carvers. Jett started carving at the age of nine and in that same year he started entering competitions.

His father stopped competing when Jett entered the professional categories of competition. At the age of 21, Jett won his first World Championship Decorative Decoy Pairs Competition. Jude Brunet has won the Ward Foundation World Championship Wildfowl Carving

Jett Brunet holding lot 143 with trophy and ribbon in 1989.

143 Detail 74

Competition, Decorative Decoy Pairs, twice.

*143. Exceptional mallard drake, Jett Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed and dated 1987.

Outstanding feather carving detail with carved crossed wingtips and raised tail feathers. Slightly turned head. Extremely realistic feather paint detail. Excellent and original.

Provenance: First place winner at the 7th annual North American Waterfowl Carving Championships 1989 Livonia, Michigan. Best of Show, open level. (8,000 - 12,000)

143 Detail

143

75

144 144 Detail

*144. Highly decorative wood duck drake with miniature, Tan Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed and dated 1985.

Highly detailed feather carving with carved crossed wingtips and slightly turned head.

Extremely fine paint detail by this master decorative carver. Excellent and original.

(6,000 - 9,000)

76

145

146

145 Detail *145. Exceptionally well carved ruddy duck, Tan Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. Included is a ruddy ruck pendant carved by Burnet, signed “To Nancy, 1990 by Tan”. Highly detailed feather carving with carved, crossed wingtips and slightly turned head. Fine and very realistic paint detail.

Burned in a banner in underside is “Carved for the collection of Richard and Nancy Denesevich, 4/1/1990, Tan Brunet”. Excellent and original.

(4,000 - 6,000)

146 Detail *146. Exceptional canvasback hen, Jett Brunet, Galliano, Louisiana. Signed and dated “1st decoy hen canvasback, for Don and Betty, Jett Brunet, 1986”. Highly detailed feather carving with raised wingtips and fluted tail.

Slightly turned head. Extremely fine and realistic feather paint detail.

(4,500 - 6,500)

77

147

147.

Greenwing teal drake, Tan Brunet, New Orleans, Louisiana. Cypress root construction. “Slick” style with slightly turned heads and paddle tail. Signed “For Don and Betty. May 2004, 1 piece, Tan.” Slightly turned head and fine paint detail. Small amount of paint missing from underside, otherwise excellent and original.

(2,000 - 3,000)

148. Pair of wood ducks, Jude Brunet, New Orleans, Louisiana. Inscribed “Denesevich collection, Jude Brunet, 92” in underside. Relief wing carving. Both have slightly turned heads. Excellent and original.

(1,500 - 2,500)

148

*149.

Exceptionally well carved ruddy duck, Jett Brunet, New Orleans, Louisiana. Signed and dated 1/11/92. Outstanding feather carving with carved, crossed wingtips and fluted tail. Slightly turned head. Exceptional feather paint. Excellent and original.

(3,000 - 5,000)

149

149 Detail 78

150. Hollow carved decorative goldeneye drake, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut, circa 1980. Signed. Detailed feather carving with reared back head. Several tiny chips missing from edges of tail feathers, otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,200 - 1,500)

150

151. Decorative scoter, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Mueller brand in underside.

Detailed feather carving with slightly raised wingtips and fluted tail.

Carved feet on both sides. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller Collection.

(1,200 - 1,500)

151

152.

Pair of ringbills, Tex Wirtz. Signed and dated 1974. Detailed wingtip and tail carving. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(900 - 1,200)

152 153. Two decoys, Jim Sprankle, Conklin, New York. Sprankle stamp in underside. Canvasback drake and bluebill drake. Both have slightly turned heads, fine feather carving detail, and fluted tails. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250)

153 79

Maryland

155

154

156

157

158

159

154. Canvasback drake, Jim Currier, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 2nd quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents.

(1,000 - 1,400) 155. Pair of canvasbacks, Jim Currier, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Original paint with very minor wear on hen, moderate wear on drake; crack through hen’s neck with thin chip missing from one edge; drake has several cracks and rough spots on body.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Mike Keating in 1985.

(900 - 1,200)

156. Pair of oversize “up the river” style canvasbacks, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents.

80

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Mike Keating in 1992.

(900 - 1,200)

157.

Pintail hen, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; old touchup on part of the bill; tail chip missing; numerous cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1986.

(900 - 1,200)

158. Very rare widgeon drake, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor wear; small crack in tail; small amount of touchup on top of head.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in a trade from Mike Keating in 1982.

(1,000 - 1,400)

159. Pair of bluebills, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both have McGaw dogbone weights. One has “HEG” stamped into it. Original paint with moderate wear; a few small dents and shot marks; hairline crack in drakes back.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Henry Fleckenstein in 1975.

(1,000 - 1,500)

Madison Mitchell

Havre de Grace, Maryland

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

168

160. Blue goose, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Very slightly turned head. Signed and dated 1980 with electropen. Two hairline cracks in underside, otherwise very good and original.

(800 - 1,200)

164. Pair of redheads Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both have slightly turned heads and are signed and dated 1981 with electropen. Very good and original.

(500 - 800)

161. Brant, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Signed and dated 1984 with electropen by both Madison Mitchell and Bill Collins. Two hairline cracks in underside, otherwise very good and original.

(600 - 900)

165. Pair of gray coots, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both are signed and dated 1982 with electropen. Very good and original.

(600 - 900)

162. Two decoys, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. A bufflehead hen and goldeneye drake. Both have slightly turned heads and are signed and dated 1980 with electropen. Several small spots of discoloration at knots; otherwise very good and original.

(500 - 800) 163. Pair of bluebills, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both have slightly turned heads and are signed and dated 1980 with electropen. Very good and original.

(500 - 800)

166. Pair of cinnamon teal, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both are signed and dated 1980 with electropen. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 167. Pair of bluewing teal, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Very slightly turned heads. Signed and dated 1977 with electropen. Original and good.

(800 - 1,200) 168. Pair of greenwing teal, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both have very slightly turned heads.

Signed and dated 1979 with electropen. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 81

Jim Schmiedlin

Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania 1945 - 2015 R.I.P.

82

169

170

169. Decorative ringbill drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Signed “Merry Christmas to my friends Louise and Dick Lancaster.

December 1984”. Detailed wingtip and tail carving. Very good and original.

(4,000 - 6,000)

170. Decorative hooded merganser drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Signed and dated 1981.

Slightly turned head. Highly detailed, layered feather carving with carved crossed wingtips. Excellent and original.

(4,000 - 6,000)

83

171

172

171. Decorative widgeon drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Hollow carved with carved, crossed wingtips and fluted tail. Slightly turned head. Branded, signed and dated 1984. Very good and original.

(4,000 - 6,000)

84

172. Mallard drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Slightly turned and lifted head with relief wing carving. Carved primaries. Fine example of Schmiedlin’s work. Very good and original.

(4,500 - 6,500)

173

174

173. Gadwall drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Dated 9/86. Head is turned approximately 30 degrees. Tail and wingtip carving. Original paint with minor wear on parts of back and lower sides; structurally good.

(4,000 - 6,000)

174. Ringbill hen, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Dated 10/97 head is turned approximately 45 degrees. Feather carving detail on back, wingtips and tail. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally very good.

(4,000 - 6,000)

85

Shorebird Decoys

175

176

175 Detail

175. Important Hudsonian curlew, Captain John McCarthy, Wildwood, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Glass eyes with very appealing paint brush patterns. Dry original paint; very good and original.

Provenance: From the Hillman auction.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, p.

167, exact decoy.

(7,000 - 9,000)

86

176 Detail

176. Yellowlegs, Captain John McCarthy, Wildwood, New Jersey. Glass eyes. Appealing paint pattern. Very dry original paint; structurally good.

Provenance: From the Hillman auction.

(4,000 - 6,000)

177

178

177 Detail

178 Detail

177. Fine robin snipe, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Noyes Museum stamp on underside. Original paint with good detail and minor wear, mostly on underside; structurally very good.

178. Black bellied plover, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with some shrinkage, mostly on one side; small dents; small knot in underside.

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, p. 67.

(10,000 - 14,000)

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired at Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. February 1992 decoy auction.

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, p. 67.

(4,000 - 6,000) 87

Obediah Verity 1813 - 1901 Seaford, New York

The information known on the man to whom the Verity decoys have attributed since 1975 is somewhat sketchy, however, the most compelling story attaching the name Obediah Verity to these decoys stems from a visit by three knowledgeable collectors to Andrew ‘Grubie’ Verity once a bayman and himself a decoy carver in Seaford.

Bud Ward, George Combs Sr, and George Combs Jr. went to the nursing home where Grubie was living with a basket of shorebirds to present to him for his reaction. He correctly identified two of the known makers among the basket of birds, and then when presented with the: Verity” birds which had previously been attributed by H. F. Osborn, his response was ‘Diah, Obediah’. The conclusion drawn from this visit with Andrew Verity helped to establish that an Obediah Verity was the maker of these wonderfully carved full bodied decoys, a conclusion which has been widely accepted by collectors since that visit in 1975.

179 Detail

88

179 Detail

179. Exceptional black bellied plover, Obediah Verity, Seaford, Long Island, New York, 3rd quarter 19th century. Deep cut relief wing carving and carved eyes. Wide “beetle” head style. Small “W” carved in one side. This is the same mark that is on the Verity feeding plover on p. 100 of “Great Book of Waterfowl Decoys.” Near mint original paint that has darkened with age; very lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Russ Goldberger. Formerly in the collection of Bud Ward.

Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 46. “Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys,” p. 100.

(25,000 - 35,000)

179

179 Detail

89

181

180

182

183

183A

184

185

186

180. Exceptional yellowlegs silhouette, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Approximately 12” long with tack eyes and split tail carving. Original carrying hole drilled through back. Excellent paint detail. Excellent and original.

Provenance: Purchased directly from Crowell, by descent in the family. Never offered for sale.

(2,500 - 3,500)

181. Curlew attributed to John McAnney, Cape May, New Jersey. Old in use repaint; bill is a replacement; crack in lower side.

(1,000 - 1,500) 182. Seaford school yellowlegs. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; several tiny dents and shot marks.

(1,250 - 1,750) 183. Rare early style sandpiper, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good. (950 - 1,250) 90

183A. Large curlew from Cape May, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Ridged tail. Worn old paint; bill is a replacement; small cracks and shot marks.

(500 - 700) 184. Greater yellowlegs, Thomas Gelston, Quogue, New York, last quarter 19th century. Worn old paint appears to be original; bill is a professional replacement; small crack in underside; small rough area on one side.

(650 - 950) 185.

Plover with tack eyes, 1st quarter 20th century. Believed to be from Duxbury, Massachusetts. Original paint with minor wear; lightly hit by shot; two small rough spots on bill.

(600 - 900)

186. Curlew, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Worn old paint; bill is a professional replacement; small cracks and dents. (500 - 700)

187

188

188 Detail

186A

186A. Peep, Lou Barkelow, Forked River, New Jersey.

Stamped “LB” under tail. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; lightly hit by shot; bill is a professional replacement by Russ Allen.

(600 - 900) 187. Black bellied plover, Daniel DeMott, East Rockaway, New York, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with good patina and minor wear; very lightly hit by shot; reglued crack runs the length of the bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired at a Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. 11/93 decoy auction.

(5,000 - 8,000)

188. Dowitcher from the Theodore Rogers rig, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. “T. Rogers” brand in underside. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

(6,000 - 9,000)

91

John Dilley

Quogue, Long Island, New York

Unlike any other area of the country, shorebirds are Long Island’s dominant decoy form. The birds were popular home fare all over Long Island and were also a staple of the wild game stands in New York’s Fulton and Washington markets, where they were purchased by city restaurateurs. The proximity to New York City’s wealthy sportsmen and the abundance of many different species of shorebirds made it a great place to sell shorebird decoys of the finest quality.

The highly refined and skillfully controlled brush work and vast knowledge of plumage within a species of shorebird make the work of John Dilley some of the most sought after. His feather painting was rendered with meticulous attention to detail through hundreds of delicate brush strokes.

189 Detail

92

189 Detail

189. Golden plover in summer plumage, John Dilley, Quogue, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with well blended wingtips; intricate paint detail on the head, breast, and under the tail. Original paint with a good mellow patina; paint missing from bill; several very small paint rubs on underside and edge of one wing.

Literature: “Hunting and Fishing Collectibles Magazine,” March/April, 2010, p. 16, exact decoy. “Ward Museum Decoys of Long Island,” catalog, p. 47 and 65, exact decoy.

(17,500 - 22,500)

189

93

190

191

190 Detail

190. Gardner/Dexter curlew, Little Compton, Rhode Island last quarter 19th century. Three piece laminated body construction. Original paint with minor wear; hit by shot; mostly on one side; slight separation at one body seam.

(10,000 - 14,000)

94

191 Detail

191. Rare golden plover, from the Fox Rig, Duxbury, Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. Well blended paint with painted eyes. Excellent and original.

(8,000 - 11,000)

192

193 193 Detail

192 Detail

192. Black bellied plover, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. His tack eye gunning model, circa 1910. Near mint original paint with good patina; professional repair to a small chip at one side of tail.

(5,000 - 8,000)

193.

Running willet, Elisha Burr. Raised carved wingtips and dropped tail. Feather paint detail on breast and shoe button eyes. Original paint with very slight wear; several tiny shot marks; RB was written under the tail at one point in time, presumably for Russ Burr.

Literature: “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph, p. 89.

(6,000 - 9,000) 95

Related Items

194 Alphonso W. Ellis (1844-1931), Canton Village, Oxford County, Maine. Maine born and bred, he served in the Civil War in Company C, Maine 23rd Infantry Regiment as a wagoner. For a short time after the war, he ran a livery stable, but by 1870 he was being listed in census records as a carriage painter, a trade he followed until his death in 1931. The killer of the salmon, attorney George D. Bisbee, also lived in Oxford County in nearby Buckfield, Maine. Weld Pond in Franklin County had a hatchery that produced land-locked salmon.

194. Salmon painted on tin, attached to board. Measures 36” x 12”. Well executed painting with wonderful dry surface. Written on bottom of plaque “Caught in Weld Pond,” May 1886 by George D. Bisben. Length 29” weight 11 lbs. Painted

by A.W. Ellis.” Slight bends at corners of metal; otherwise very good and original.

(2,000 - 3,000)

“Around 1885, a group of avid fishermen from the Dixfield area organized the East Oxford Angling Association. Mr. Henry O. Stanley, Fisheries Commissioner for the State of Maine, was elected Vice President. They built a lodge on the west side of Webb Lake (a.k.a. Weld Pond), near the West Brook. Later, the lodge was owned by Mr. Stanley and became the Stanley Camp.” George D. Bisbee was Stanley’s brother-in-law. (Vol. 15, no. 4 Dixfield Historical Society Newsletter September, 2011).

195. Wooden carved fish plaque, Tom Schroeder Detroit, Michigan. Stamped “Tom Schroeder, 1970” in back. Plaque is 21.5” long. Fish is very good and original; plaque has two dents in top.

195

196 96

Provenance: Flowers collection. (900 - 1,200)

196. Carved wooden fish plaque of an Atlantic salmon. Plaque is approximately 26” long.

Inscribed “River Pvera Iceland, 3rd August 1928, 4 lbs. 4 oz., Sibel Harker”. Original paint with minor flaking on most of underside; touchup to one fin as well as a small dent on that fin.

(800 - 1,200)

197. Carved wooden striped bass or rockfish plaque, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Strunk stamp on back. Plaque is approximately 34” long. Excellent and original with good det ail.

(650 - 950)

198A. Lake trout, Lawrence Irvine, Winthrop, Maine. Mounted on mahogany board. Very good and original.

(500 - 800)

197

198

199. Cigar store Turk, 1st quarter 20th century. Figure is 33” tall, total height is 41 1/2” Old repaint; cracks and chips; legs may have been shortened; not on original box.

Provenance: Flowers collection.

(2,500 - 3,500)

199

200 200. Parade baton dated 1942. Carved on four different sides, “1942,” “Mary Cecilia,” “US Engineers,” and “Boca Chica”. Further down are diamond carvings, then an alligator. The rest is red white and blue carved roping. Total length 25”. Minor wear, mostly to painted area.

200 Detail

Provenance: Flowers collection.

(400 - 600)

97

201

202

203

204 204 Detail

204A 201. Turned wooden parade baton from Nantucket, Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. Several tiny holes, otherwise original and good; area visible on part of one side where some bark was included in the turning.

(900 - 1,200) 202. Vintage walking stick with a carving of a black man’s head at the top. Original and good.

(500 - 750) 203. Carved whale whirligig. Approximately 31” long. Original paint that has been aged; small amount of 98

white paint put on underside at one time.

(950 - 1,250)

204. Vintage percussion market gun. Approximately 65” long. 3/4” barrel. Stock does not appear to be original; otherwise good.

(800 - 1,200) 204A. Three glass target ball. One purple with English shooter with that image twice imprinted. One clear with two images of shooter with gun in hand from the United Kingdom.

One has Bogardus patent applied 1877 and is amber. Very good and original.

(900 - 1,200)

205. Iron target ball thrower on wooden base. Approximately 37” long. Original and good.

(1,250 - 1,750)

205 206

207

208

209

206. Two wooden gunning boxes, 1st quarter 20th century. Approximately 15” x 11” x 7” and 11” x 10” x 4”.

Included are brass shotgun shells and loading tools. Good.

Provenance: Flowers collection.

207.

Old wooden gunning box. Approximately 16” x 9” x 10”.

Brass hinges. Compartments inside, with loading tools and old shotgun shells.

(300 - 400)

(650 - 950)

208. Carved wooden totem pole, circa 1930. 12” tall with three separate animal figures. Including a bear, badger, and eagle. Original paint with good patina, structurally excellent.

(500 - 800) 209. Large pair of cast iron decoy andirons from Hampton Lodge on Churches Island, 1st quarter 20th century. No paint; structurally good.

(500 - 800)

99

North Carolina 210.

Rare widgeon drake, Ned Burgess, Churches Island, North Carolina. Original paint with very minor wear; two short cracks in tail; hairline crack in underside.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 124.

(2,250 - 2,750)

210 211. Large canvasback drake, Humphrey Lewark, Corolla, North Carolina. Old in use repaint; lightly hit by shot; small cracks.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 259.

(1,500 - 2,000)

212.

Rare battery redhead, Alvirah Wright, Duck, North Carolina. Worn old paint with some original showing; numerous cracks and shot marks; small rough area on top of head; rough area on back side of neck base.

(3,500 - 4,500)

211

212 213. Swimming brant, George Washington O’Neal, Ocracoke, North Carolina, 2nd quarter 20th century. Worn old paint; numerous cracks; age split in underside.

(1,500 - 2,500)

213 100

214

214 Detail

214. Rare root head swan from the Narrows Island Club. Old in use repaint; replaced bill.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 118.

(8,000 - 12,000)

101

215

216

217

218

219

220

221

222

223

215. Coot, from the Joseph Cotton hunting stand, Knotts Island, North Carolina. Worn paint appears to be original; small cracks.

(500 - 800) 216. Pair of canvas over wire frame canvasbacks, Knotts Island, North Carolina. Original paint; minor wear; a few small worn spots to canvas.

(500 - 700) 217. Canvas over wire frame coot, Ellie Saunders, Poplar Branch, North Carolina. Unusual downward pointing bill. Old in use repaint; small tears in canvas.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 194.

(500 - 700)

218. Canvas over wire frame swan, from North Carolina. Original paint with minor discoloration some old paint spattered on back and neck.

(400 - 600) 219. Canvas over wire frame scoter found in North Carolina. Old repaint; small worn areas in canvas.

(350 - 550) 102

220. Canvas over wire Canada goose from the Gull Island Club, Salvo, North Carolina. Branded “K” for the owner of the club. Original and good.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 351.

(350 - 450)

221. Canvas over wire frame brant, Charles Edwards, Jr., Atlantic, North Carolina. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; several small holes in canvas near tail.

Provenance: Blue ribbon winner at the Core Sound Decoy Festival 1993.

(650 - 950)

222. Pintail drake, Ned Burgess, Churches Island, North Carolina. Mixture of original paint with moderate wear and old working repaint; small cracks in body. (500 - 800) 223. Canvasback drake, Ned Burgess, Churches Island, North Carolina. Old repaint; crack in one side.

(350 - 550)

224

225

226

227

228

229

224. Rare redhead drake, Robert Morse, Churches Island, North Carolina, 1st quarter 20th century. Old in use repaint; worn to the original and the bare wood in some places; crack through neck; small cracks in body.

227.

Rare pair of canvas over wire frame buffleheads, Mannie Haywood, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Original paint with minor wear; slight roughness to canvas.

(950 - 1,250)

228.

Swan, Cliff Tillett, Wanchese, North Carolina. Original paint; structurally good; unused.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 323.

(950 - 1,250)

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 172.

(1,000 - 1,400)

225. Rare bluebill drake with tack eyes, Wallace O’Neal, Aydlett, North Carolina. Appealing old in use repaint; small cracks and dents and shot marks.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 192.

(1,000 - 1,400)

226. Canvasback drake, Joe Hayman, Coinjock, North Carolina. Old in use repaint; thin crack through neck; small cracks in body.

229. Swan, Bailey Barco, Deals Island, North Carolina, 1st quarter 20th century. Old in use repaint; numerous cracks; rough spots; head and neck are a professional replacement by Frank Finney.

(900 - 1,200)

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 148.

(1,000 - 1,400) 103

Mason Factory Shorebirds Detroit, Michigan

Comparison of Mason glasseye willet with Charles Thomas original (right). “Mason Decoys,� Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid

230 Detail 104

230. Extremely rare special order oversize willet, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1900. Glass eye model with very good paint detail. Approximately 15” long. Modeled after a willet by Charles Thomas, Assinippi, Massachusetts. Strong original paint with slight wear; around ten tiny shot marks in one side.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Andi and David Fischer. Formerly in the James McCleery collection.

Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 117, exact decoy. “American Wildfowl Decoys,” Jeff Waingrow, p. 9. James McCleery auction catalog, Guyette & Schmidt/ Sotheby’s, lot 504, exact decoy.

(27,500 - 32,500)

230

230 Detail

105

231

232

231. Robin snipe in fall plumage, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit Michigan, circa 1910. Tack eye model. Near mint original paint; decoy appears to have never been used; slight surface rust on bill; several tiny specs of paint on one side.

(2,500 - 3,500)

232 Detail

106

232. Black bellied plover, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Glass eye model, circa 1915. Very plump example, with good patina. Original paint with slight wear; a couple of in factory filled cracks are visible under the paint on one side; very lightly hit by shot.

(6,000 - 8,000)

233

234

235

236

233. Pair of bluebills, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1900. Both have Hillman collection on underside. Wide bill carving, snakey neck style. Challenge grade. Original paint with slight wear; structurally good.

235. Rare widgeon drake, Dodge Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, last quarter 19th century. Tack eyes. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; neck filler has been replaced with touchup in that area; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of John Hillman, Seagirt, New Jersey.

(2,000 - 3,000)

234. Rigmate pair of pintails, Hays Decoy Factory, Jefferson City, Missouri. Near mint original paint; small cracks in underside of drake; much of the drake’s neck filler is missing; shot scar in one side of drake’s bill.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(1,000 - 1,400)

(1,500 - 2,000)

236. Owl and crow set, Herter’s Decoy Factory, Waseca, Minnesota. Balsa with glass eyes. Owl has bear claw bill. Original paint with very slight wear; a couple of small dents on crow’s body.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Dr. James McCleery, McCleery collection stamp on decoy.

Literature: “Collection of Dr. James McCleery auction catalog,” Guyette & Schmidt/Sotheby’s, January 2000, lot 300, exact decoy. “American Factory Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 17.

(3,000 - 5,000) 107

237

238

239

240

241

237. Pair of wood ducks, Wildfowler Decoy Factory, Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Signed and dated 1976 by Charles Birdsall. Also “Point Pleasant” stamp on underside. Both have turned heads. Detailed feather painting. Near mint.

(800 - 1,200) 238.

Pair of widgeon, Wildfowler Decoy Factory. Unstamped.

Branded “ORR” for Oden R. Reid. From the Flyway Club. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents.

(500 - 700)

239.

Bluebill drake, Dodge Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with moderate wear; lightly hit by shot; areas of neck filler missing.

(500 - 800)

108

242

240. Rare rigmate pair of bluewing teal, Victor Animal Trap Company. Drake has slightly turned head. Both have company stamp on underside. Near mint; unused.

(500 - 800) 241. Rare pair of goldeneye, Wildfowler Decoy Factory, Old Saybrook, Connecticut. “Old Saybrook” stamp in underside. Keels removed; otherwise very good and original.

(500 - 700) 242. Rare rigmate pair of scoters, Wildfowler Decoy Factory. Unstamped. Original paint with minor wear; hen’s eye is missing; small dents and shot marks.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(500 - 800)

Louisiana

243

243.

244

245

246

247

Pair of widgeon, Warren Seebt, New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1960. Relief wing carving. Original paint with minor wear; slight roughness to drake’s tip of tail.

(1,000 - 1,400)

244. Mallard hen and drake, Warren Seebt, New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1960. Relief wing carving. Thin crack through drake’s neck; slight roughness to drake’s wingtips.

(1,000 - 1,400) 245. Two teal, Warren Seebt, New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1950. Relief wing carving. Original paint with minor

wear; a few small dents; greenwing has a thin crack through the bill.

(950 - 1,250) 246. Ringbill drake in content pose, Warren Seebt, New Orleans, Louisiana. Appealing old in use repaint; a few small rough spots on tail.

(900 - 1,200) 247. Working coot decoy, Tom Beary, Thibadaux, Louisiana. “ATB” carved in the underside. Very good and original.

(350 - 450)

109

Elmer Crowell

1864 - 1954 East Harwich, Massachusetts

248

249

248. Black duck, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts, 1st quarter 20th century. Crowell’s oval brand in the underside. Head is turned approximately 30 degrees. Good feather paint detail. Small shallow rough spot on one side; otherwise very good and original.

(4,000 - 6,000)

249 Detail

110

249. Wood duck drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Rectangular stamp on underside.

Painted on the underside. Fluted tail with slightly turned head. Weighted as a door stop. Dry original paint that has slightly mellowed to make an appealing surface; very good and original.

(6,000 - 8,000)

250

251 250 Detail

250. Redhead drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts, 1st quarter 20th century. Early gunning model with fluted tail and rasping on the back of the head. Original paint with very minor wear; slight roughness to one edge of tail; small filled knot in back; tiny shot mark in one side.

Provenance: Formerly in the Collins collection. Formerly in the William J. Mackey collection, Mackey collection

251 Detail

stamp on underside.

(8,000 - 12,000)

251. Mallard drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts, 1st quarter 20th century. Crowell’s oval brand in the underside. Slightly lifted head with tack eyes. Crowell used tack eyes during World War I when he couldn’t buy glass eyes, which were made in Germany.

Fluted tail. Original paint with minor shrinkage and a few small dents.

(8,000 - 12,000) 111

Virginia Ira Hudson

1876 - 1949 Chincoteague, Virginia

“Ira Hudson used mostly cedar, a lot of which came from the Pocomoke River, and cypress from old telephone poles to construct his decoys. Norman (Hudson) remembered the occasional sailing mast salvaged from wrecks or old boats; its white pine was used to make bodies, one slightly larger than the next. When they located masts or telephone poles, they would cut them into 10 foot lengths and haul them to the shed. Norman also remembers buying two inch boards from the mill that were used for three piece brant and goose decoys. Later in the 1930s and 1940s Ira bought cedar from North Carolina by the truck load.”

“Ira D. Hudson and Family”, Stansbury, Henry, copyright 2002, published by Decoy Magazine

252 Detail

112

252

252 Detail 252. Very rare hooded merganser hen, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Carved wooden crest.

Very round full body style with fluted tail. Fine scratch feather paint detail. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear, mostly on breast and sides; bill is a professional replacement.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired From William Mackey, Jr. in 1972.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 28.

(25,000 - 35,000)

113

253

254

253. Rigmate pair of canvasbacks, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1930s. Round body style and fluted tails. Original paint with moderate shrinkage and wear; crack through drake’s neck; each has a crack in the underside; both decoys have had the undersides planed slightly so they will sit flat on a shelf.

114

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from J.G. Dimling in 1979. Also owned by Jimmy Ennis, Pocomoke, Maryland, 1946. Used on Pocomoke Sound.

(4,000 - 6,000)

254. Rigmate pair of bluebills, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Flat bottom style with ice groove behind neck. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; each has a small separation at the body seam and a few small dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1965.

(5,000 - 8,000)

255

256

255. Rare “banjo tail” style pintail drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Worn original paint; numerous small cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Millard Jones in 1977.

(5,000 - 8,000)

256. Hollow carved brant, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1920s. Good feather paint detail on sides. Original paint with minor wear; small vertical crack at neck base.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Guy Windsor in 1969.

(6,500 - 9,500)

256 Detail

115

257. Very rare goldeneye drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Round body style with tack eyes. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; slight separation at neck seam; crack in one side of neck; age split in undersides.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired at Mackey collection sale number 4 in 1973. Mackey collection stamp on underside.

(4,000 - 6,000)

257

258. Merganser hen, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; the white paint on the breast and underside is a second coat; some wear to wood on crest; bill is a professional replacement.

(4,000 - 6,000)

258

259

259.

Rare red breasted merganser drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. circa 1920s. Old in use repaint on much of the decoy; original paint on breast with moderate wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Mort Hanson, Sr. in 1979.

Previously in the Brodie Henson collection.

Literature: “Decoy Collectors Guide,” issue 2, 1963, p. 24, rigmate pictured.

(4,000 - 6,000)

260. Hollow carved brant, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Flat bottom style with ice dip behind neck. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration and wear; small dents; short scar on top of tail.

260 116

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from William Purnell in 1967.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 33.

(3,500 - 4,500)

261

261. Rare hissing Canada goose, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1920s. Original paint with minor wear; worn area on one side with cracks and small amount of roughness; crack at neck base; small amount of filler missing from neck base; hairline crack through bill; small dents; age split in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Guy Windsor in 1968. Exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1987, Smithsonian sticker on underside.

(9,000 - 12,000)

261 Detail

117

Doug Jester

1876 - 1961 Chincoteague, Virginia

262

263 262. Very rare mallard hen and drake, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. Hen has detailed scratch loop feather paint. Original paint with minor wear; drake has been significantly hit by shot and has rust at tack eyes.

Provenance: Hen was formerly in the collection of Somers G. Headly. “SGH” stamp in underside.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p.

75.

(4,000 - 6,000) 263. Very rare rigmate pair of widgeon, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. Original paint with minor 118

wear; moderate shrinkage on drake, mostly in the breast area; crack through hen’s neck; drake appears to have had the white areas dulled a little after decoy was made.

Provenance: Two of only six known, made as a special order for Eugene Fara, Virginia Beach, Virginia, to hunt with on Back Bay, Virginia. Doug Jester went to Virginia Beach in off season and painted cottages at Fara’s tourist village located in Atlantic Village, Virginia. Both have large red “F” painted on underside.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p.

90.

(4,000 - 6,000)

264

265

266

267

268

269

264. Canada goose, Ira Hudson Chincoteague, Virginia. Early three piece body style with sections joined by small wooden dowels. Old in use repaint; cracks in neck and bill; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Hanley collection.

265.

Flat bottom brant, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1930s. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; rough area on one side of bill; crack through neck; age split in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1970.

(900 - 1,200)

(800 - 1,200)

simple carving with tack eyes. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; age split in the underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1979.

(1,500 - 2,500)

268. Hollow carved brant with raised “V” wingtip carving, attributed to Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. A mixture of old in use repaint and discolored original paint; minor wear; small dents; crack in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1966.

(800 - 1,200)

266. Cottonwood black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; minor roughness to edge of tail; thin crack through neck.

269.

Canvasback hen, Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 2nd quarter 20th century. Balsa body with cedar head. Original paint with minor wear; wear to balsa tail; small dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Grayson Chesser in 1985.

(1,250 - 1,750)

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1982.

267.

Black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Fairly

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p.

39.

(900 - 1,200) 119

Contemporary Carvings

270

271

272

273

274

275

270.

Swimming shoveler drake, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Hollow carved with slightly turned head.

Signed. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,200 - 1,500)

271. Working style merganser hen and drake, Davison Hawthorne, Greenville, Delaware. Signed. Relief wingtip carving. Original and good.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,200 - 1,500)

272. King eider, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Mueller brand in underside. Original paint with slight wear; keel has been removed.

120

Provenance: Miller collection.

(900 - 1,200)

273. Snow goose, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia. Large “C” carved in underside. Inscribed in underside is “This snow goose is made for my good friend Mike and Ginger Raffia, Grayson Chesser, 2-15-02”. Very good and original.

(950 - 1,250) 274. Nantucket style golden plover on wire legs, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Relief wing carving and tack eyes. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good.

(1,000 - 1,400) 275. Large godwit, William Gibian, Onancock, Virginia. Signed. Approximately 17” long. With relief wing carving and very slightly turned head. Very good and original.

(600 - 900)

276

277

278

279

280

281

282

283

284

276. Two decoys, Skip Couvillion, Shreveport, Louisiana. A pintail drake and greenwing teal drake. Both are signed by the maker and inscribed “Number 17 pintail drake 2014, number 19 greenwing teal drake 2014. Also inscribed hunted over by Phil Robertson (of Duck Dynasty) 2015/1015 duck season. Certificate of Authenticity included. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally very good.

(600 - 900) 277. Pair of flat bottom style goldeneye, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Branded in weight. Carved, crossed wingtips and fluted tails. Very good and original.

(600 - 900) 278. Pair of old squaw carved in the Delaware River tradition, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Stamped in weights.

(600 - 900) 279. Pair of bluewing teal, carved in the Delaware River tradition, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Stamped in weight. Original and good.

(500 - 800) 280.

Pair of cinnamon teal carved in the Delaware River tradition, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Stamped

in weight. Original and good.

(500 - 800)

281. Pair of shovelers, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Stamped in weight. Carved in the Delaware River tradition. Drake is in content pose. Minor wear on edges of tails, otherwise original and good.

(650 - 950) 282. Hollow carved loon, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. “R. Birch” carved in underside. Also inscribed “To Pete, Reggie Birch 1989.” Slightly turned and lifted head. Excellent original paint; structurally very good.

Provenance: Hanley collection.

(500 - 800)

283. Large eider drake, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Signed. G Strunk stamped in weight. Slightly turned head carved crossed wingtips and fluted tail. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(500 - 800)

284. Large gull, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Signed. Turned head with carved, crossed wingtips and fluted tail. Excellent and original.

(650 - 950)

121

285

286

287

288

289

285. Canvasback head duck rack, Frank Finney, Capeville, Virginia. Signed and dated 1985. Heads are all carved in style of Lee Dudley. Original and artificially aged.

(400 - 600)

side. Carved in the Cobb Island style with relief shoulders and split tail. Paint is stressed and worn to simulate age.

Shoe button eyes with bill splined through the back.

(650 - 950)

286. Four oversize gunning model mallards, Rich Smoker, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1998. Carved wingtips. Very good and original.

288. Ruddy duck, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Unsigned. Original paint that has been aged; small crack in back and underside.

(700 - 1,000)

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,200 - 1,500)

287. Robin snipe in spring plumage, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Signed “McNair” on the under-

122

289. Pintail drake, attributed to Frank Finney. Long wide body with upswept tail. Painted surface is made to look old. Excellent and original.

(800 - 1,200)

Canada

290

291

292

293

294

295

296

297 Scotia, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint on head, bill and back, the rest is working repaint; bill chip missing; crack in underside; tag on underside indicates the decoy was purchased at a Chris Huntington auction, Blockhouse, Nova Scotia, 1978.

290. Pair of mergansers, Andre Broussard, St. Andre de la Calle, Quebec. Original paint that has been artificially aged; a few small dents.

(800 - 1,200) 291. Pair of bluebills, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 292. Merganser drake, Orin Hiltz, Indian Point, Nova Scotia, circa 1970. Tag on underside indicates the decoy was purchased at Chris Huntington, Blockhouse, Nova Scotia, 1978. Original paint with very slight wear; small cracks in body.

Literature: “Decoys of Maritime Canada,” Dale and Gary Guyette, p. 67.

(400 - 700)

293. Goldeneye drake, similar to work of Edwin Backman, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Tag on underside indicates the decoy was purchased at Chris Huntington, Blockhouse, Nova Scotia, 1978. Appealing old in use repaint; inlet head is loose; small chip missing from bill.

Literature: “Decoys of Maritime Canada,” Dale and Gary Guyette, p. 18.

(400 - 600)

294. Goldeneye drake, Edwin Backman, Lunenburg, Nova

Literature: “Decoys of Maritime Canada,” Dale and Gary Guyette, p. 18.

(600 - 900)

295. Snow goose, Andre Broussard, St. Andre de la Calle, Quebec. Original paint with minor wear; hairline crack through neck; two surface cracks in back; small dents.

(400 - 600) 296. Canvasback drake, Andre Broussard, St. Andre de la Calle, Quebec. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor wear; most of which was done to make the decoy appear old.

(300 - 500) 297. Feeding Canada goose, Wilbur Roy Mill, Kensington, Prince Edward Island. Original paint on much of the decoy; several plugged defects in wood; minor wear; white appears to have old repaint; age split in one side; small crack in breast.

Provenance: Flowers collection.

(300 - 400) 123

Upstate New York

298

299

300

301

302

303

298. Black duck, Frank Coombs, Alexandria Bay, New York. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Robert Rayfield.

(1,250 - 1,750) 299. Bluebill hen and drake, Clovis Lefevbre, Alexandria Bay, New York. Old touchup on hen’s bill, otherwise original paint with minor wear; drake is mostly repainted; both are hit by shot; minor roughness to drake’s tail.

(500 - 700) 300. Bluebill hen, Frank Coombs, Alexandria Bay, New York, circa 1920s. Original paint with minor wear mostly on speculums a few tiny dents; several shot scars on one side; professional touchup on each lower side.

124

Provenance: Old tag on underside reads “Obtained from Joe Tonelli in 1968.”

(800 - 1,200)

301. Pair of “blind eye” style bluebills, Chauncey Wheeler, Alexandria Bay, New York. With “arrow head” style tails. Drake has original paint with minor to moderate wear and has been hit by shot; hen has old in use repaint on much of the decoy, a few small dents and shot marks numerous on one side.

(900 - 1,200) 302. Pair of goldeneye, Cyril Heath, Alexandria Bay, New York. Original paint with minor wear on hen; white areas of drake have old in use repaint; small dents and shot marks; drake has a professional bill repair.

(950 - 1,250) 303. Goldeneye hen and drake, Gus Rogers, Alexandria Bay, New York. Hen is made with a piece of wood fitted to the underside of the front. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; rough area on one side of drake with filled cracks and filled defect in wood from before the decoy was made; much of the filler has come out.

(1,250 - 1,750)

304. Very rare swimming mallard drake with extended neck, Roy Conklin, Alexandria Bay, New York, circa 1950. Near mint original paint; structurally very good.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(1,400 - 1,800)

304

305. Pair of goldeneye, James Stanley, Cape Vincent, New York, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; white areas of drake appear to have old repaint; a few small dents.

Literature: “Decoys: A North America Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p.

157.

(2,000 - 3,000)

305

306. Very rare pair of mallards, Robert Mittlestadt, Buffalo, New York. Good paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; bodies are made from several pieces of wood; body seam separation in both decoys.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(2,000 - 3,000)

306 307. Redhead drake, Frank Coombs, Alexandria Bay, New York. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents.

(1,500 - 2,500)

307 125

308

309

310

311

312

313

314

315

308. Black duck, Sam Denny, Clayton, New York. Original paint with minor wear; touchup on much of the back and tail; small dents.

(800 - 1,200) 309. Bluebill hen from Western New York State, 1st quarter 20th century. Slightly turned head with glass eyes. Subtle feather paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents; shot scar on back.

(650 - 950) 310. Mallard hen and drake, Ken Harris, Woodville New York. Hen has Harris stamp on underside. Very slight roughness to edge of hen’s bill; discoloration on underside of hen; otherwise original and good.

(450 - 650) 311.

126

Large black duck, William Aiken, Alexandria Bay, New York. Branded “WB Aiken” on underside, also “WBA” is painted on underside. Original and very good. (500 - 800)

316

312. Bluebill hen from Alexandria Bay, New York. Painted

by Chauncey Wheeler. Original and good.

(350 - 550) 313. Wood duck drake, Ken Harris, Woodville, New York. Harris ink stamp on underside. Very good and original.

(350 - 550) 314. Bufflehead drake form the Rochester, New York area. Shows some Stevens Brothers characteristics. Appealing old repaint; a few small dents. (600 - 900) 315. Pair of bluebills, William Bamford, Alexandria Bay, New York. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration and wear; a few small dents.

(600 - 900) 316. Bluebill drake, Chauncey Patterson, Wellesley Island, New York. Original paint with moderate shrinkage and minor wear; a few small dents.

(650 - 950)

Maryland

317

318

319

320

321

322

323

324

317. Redhead drake, Ben Dye, Perryville, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Reckless brand in underside. Paint has been restored; small cracks and dents. (800 - 1,200) 318. Goldeneye drake by a member of Sterling Family, Crisfield, Maryland. Old repaint that is flaking and worn; small cracks.

Provenance: Formerly in collection of Robert Richardson, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Richardson collection stamp on underside.

(900 - 1,200)

319. Canvasback drake, John Graham, Charlestown, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Old in use repaint; thin cracks in breast and neck.

(500 - 800) 320. Flicker, from Crisfield, Maryland. Believed to be made by a member of the Sterling family. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

(500 - 800) 321. Pair of canvasbacks, Paul Gibson, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Original paint with minor wear; crack through hen’s neck and in the side of both.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1963.

(500 - 800)

322. Pintail drake, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Signed and dated 1958 on underside. Retains original weight. Minor wear; very good and original.

(500 - 800) 323. Pintail drake, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Early style. Signed by Mitchell and dated 1940. Retains original weight. Strong original paint with some discoloration on underside; hairline crack in back; small areas of flaking on head; including minor rubs at bill and head.

(500 - 800) 324. Very rare bufflehead hen, Jim Brinks Nelson, Crisfield, Maryland. Original paint with good patina and minor wear; defect in wood in center of back; minor roughness to edge of tail.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Attached tag indicates decoy was displayed at the Ward Foundation 1984-1985.

Also at the Easton Historical Society and Talbot County Historical Society. Formerly in collection of Somers G. Headly, “SGH” stamp in underside.

(500 - 800) 127

325

326

327

328

329

330

325. Pair of canvasbacks, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bobby Richardson in 1980.

(650 - 950)

326. Four decoys, Robert Litzenberger, Elkton, Maryland, circa 1980s. Three canvasbacks and a bluebill. All are signed on the weights. Original and good.

(500 - 800) 327. Wooden wing duck, from Havre de Grace, Maryland, last quarter 19th century. Attributed to a member of the Holly Family. Numerous cracks; worn area on one edge of bill; paint has been restored; lightly hit by shot. (650 - 950)

128

328. Pair of greenwing teal, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Drake is in sleeping pose. Both are signed and dated 1981 with electropen. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 329. Pair of bluewing teal, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Both are signed 1980 with electropen. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 330. Wooden mold for a Jim Currier iron sink box decoy. Refinished; small dents; filler in chip in one side of bill.

(800 - 1,200)

331

332

333

334

335

336

337

338

339

331. Early widgeon drake, Lloyd Tyler Crisfield, Maryland. Old repaint with some original showing; several cracks and age splits.

(400 - 600) 332.

Redhead drake, John Graham, Chestertown, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Old in use repaint; small cracks; bill chip repair.

(400 - 600)

333. Redhead drake, John “Daddy” Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Old overpaint has been taken off to show what appears to be some original; small dents and cracks.

(400 - 600) 334. Canvasback drake, John Daddy Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Inset weight embossed TJH. Old in use repaint; small cracks and dents.

(400 - 600) 335. Bluebill drake, Captain Ben Dyke, Perryville, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Old repaint; hit by shot; small dents.

(400 - 600) 336. Redhead drake, Jim Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1900. From the Dick Armour rig, Northeast River,

Maryland. Appealing old in use repaint; crack through neck; minor roughness to tail; lightly hit by shot.

(400 - 600) 337. Canvasback drake, Chauncey Reynolds, Northeast, Maryland. Second coat of paint by Reynolds; minor to moderate wear; small cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Reynolds granddaughter, Mildred, in 1988.

(400 - 600)

338. Canvasback hen, John Graham, Charlestown, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. “PK Barnes” brand in underside. Appealing old in use repaint; cracks in neck with small chip missing at neck base; bill has been slightly blunted; top of head and edges of tail have some wear.

Literature: “Decoys of the Mid Atlantic Region,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 98.

(450 - 650)

339. Redhead drake, Ben Dye, Perryville, Maryland, last quarter 19th century. Inset weight embossed “ELB”. Old in use repaint; small cracks and dents.

(400 - 600) 129

Virginia Shorebirds

341

340

342

343

344 340. Three flat sided shorebirds from Salvo/Rodanthe, North Carolina. Two willets and a yellowlegs. Two have original iron stakes. Worn old paint; small cracks.

(1,000 - 1,400) 341. Curlew from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, last quarter 19th century. “GA” carved under the tail. Original paint with moderate wear; small cracks; bill is an old replacement; small burned area on one edge of tail.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bud Ward in 1976.

(1,000 - 1,400)

342. Flat sided curlew from Paramore Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Body is made from two pieces of wood that are pegged together. Original paint with minor wear; bill is an old replacement.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Purchased form Davison Hawthorne in 1963.

Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 91.

(1,000 - 1,500) 343. Curlew from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Slightly flat sided with carved eyes.

Each side has a squared off wooden plug to repair a defect in wood from when the decoy was made. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; two short cracks in breast; 130

345

346

approximately 1/2 of bill has been replaced.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Julia & Guyette auction, October 1990. Formerly in the collection of William J. Mackey, Mackey collection stamp on underside.

(1,200 - 1,500)

344. Yellowlegs from Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Most of the paint has worn away; crack through bill; small rough spots on body; small cracks in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Lou Reneri in 1974.

(650 - 950)

345. Black bellied plover from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Carved eyes. Original paint with moderate wear; shallow crack in one side; shallow rough spot on other side.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from McIntyre/O’Connor in 2001.

(650 - 950)

346. Robin snipe in spring plumage from Smith Island, Virginia. Slightly flat sided with relief wing carving. Very good original paint with minor wear; bill is a professional replacement; very lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Mackey in 1970.

(650 - 950)

347

348

349

350

351

352

353

354

347. Black bellied plover with raised “V” wing carving. “JJ” carved under the tail. Old in use repaint; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1977.

(400 - 600)

348. Black bellied plover from Cobb Island, Virginia. Wide beetle head style and raised “V” wingtip carving. “Captain Burton - Wach, VA” is written under the tail. Most of the paint is worn off; heavily hit by shot; bill is an old replacement; small surface cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired at 11/03 Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. decoy auction. Mackey collection stamp on the underside.

(350 - 450)

349. Dowitcher form the Eastern shore of Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; lightly hit by shot; bill is an old replacement.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1965.

(350 - 450) 350. Running robin snipe in spring plumage, Hog Island, Virginia. Bill is an old replacement; worn old paint appears to be original; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from the Julia/Guyette auction 10/90.

(500 - 700)

351. Robin snipe in spring plumage from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Appealing old in use repaint; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison

355 Hawthorne in 1966.

(450 - 650)

352. Dowitcher from Paramore Island, Virginia. Body halves are joined with three dowels. Old in use repaint; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1967.

(400 - 600)

353. Yellowlegs from Smith Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Relief wing carving with “V” carved wingtips. Original paint with moderate wear; most of the paint is worn off of the hardwood bill; short hairline crack in one side.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from the Julia/Guyette auction 10/91.

(500 - 700)

354. Yellowlegs from Mears, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Head is slightly cocked. Original paint with minor wear; bill is a replacement.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Julia/ Guyette auction 10/91. Formerly in the collection of William J. Mackey, Mackey collection stamp on underside.

(500 - 800)

355. Plump sandpiper in spring plumage from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; lightly hit by shot; bill is a professional replacement by Cameron McIntyre.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Formerly in the collection of William J. Mackey, Mackey collection stamp on underside. Acquired in a 1973 Richard Bourne decoy auction.

(1,200 - 1,500) 131

Maryland

356

357B

360

357

357A

359

358

361

361A

356. Two cork body black ducks from the Susquehanna river. Original paint with minor wear; some roughness to cork; small chip missing from underside of bill on one, that bill has old touchup.

357A. Black duck, John Smith, Ocean City, Maryland.

Repainted by Ira Hudson; moderate wear; thin crack through neck; crack in underside; old repaint on underside by someone else.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(300 - 400)

357. Canvasback hen, Henry Davis, Perryville, Maryland. Appealing old in use repaint; a few small dents and shot marks.

132

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Jerry Albright in 1981.

(300 - 500)

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(300 - 500)

357B. Canvasback drake, similar to the work of Wash Barnes.

Old overpaint has been taken off exposing the bare wood in many places; small cracks in underside.

(350 - 450) 358.

Redhead drake, John Graham, Charlestown, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Old overpaint has been taken off to the bare wood in many places; cracks in neck.

Literature: “Decoys of the Mid Atlantic Region,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 113.

(350 - 450)

366. Vintage diamond willow snake cane from Montana. Original paint and stain with moderate wear on snake; a few small cracks.

(250 - 350)

362

368. Canvas over wire frame swan from North Carolina. Old in use repaint on wood; paint on canvas appears to be original; crack through neck.

(200 - 300)

359. Black duck with turned head, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1950s. Original paint with minor wear; moderate wear on part of the underside; a few small dents.

369. Black duck, Clovis Lefebvre, Alexandria Bay, New York. Original paint with moderate wear; significant crack in one side; roughness to tail with touchup in that areas; cracks in underside.

(200 - 300)

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1966.

(350 - 450)

370. Black duck from New Jersey. Old in use repaint; neck crack repair.

(200 - 400)

360. Wooden canvasback hen sink box decoy, Bob Litzenberger, Elkton, Maryland. Inscription on underside reads “Made by Bill Litzenberger 1931 repainted 1964.” Small surface cracks near one speculum.

(300 - 500)

371. Miniature widgeon drake with turned head, Henry Fleckenstein and painted by Pam Fleckenstein, 1993. Mounted on decorative board that is signed on underside.

(200 - 300)

361. Pair of mallards, Jim Pierce, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Stamped “JP” on the undersides. Signed. Very good and original.

(300 - 400)

371A. Canvasback drake, from the Chestertown area last quarter 19th century. Old in use repaint; small cracks and dents; appears to have head by a different maker.

(200 - 300)

361A. Pair of canvasbacks, Paul Gibson, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 2nd quarter 20th century. Old in use repaint; small cracks and a few small dents.

372. Black duck from New Jersey. Rowley Horner head on a Sam Soper body. Old in use repaint; a few small dents.

(150 - 250)

Provenance: Drake has “F” Brand in underside for Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. Collection.

(500 - 800)

362. Bluebill drake, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Old repaint with some original showing on light areas of body; weight is missing; small cracks and shot marks; fairly large shot scar at underside of one side of bill.

(200 - 300) 363. Goldeneye drake from Massachusetts. Branded “AJC” twice in underside. Original paint with moderate discoloration and wear; some of the neck filler is missing; crack in underside.

(250 - 350)

373. Black duck, Wildfowler Decoy Factory. Unstamped.

Slightly turned head. Very good and original. (150 - 250) 374. Redhead drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Standard grade with painted eyes. Original paint that has darkened with age; minor wear; small cracks; much of the neck filler is missing; small shot mark on head; tiny chip missing from one edge of bill.

(150 - 250) 375. Goldeneye hen, Wildfowler Decoy Factory. Unstamped. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; structurally good.

(100 - 150)

364. Hollow carved gull, Harry V. Shourds III, Lynnwood, New Jersey. Branded “HVS”. Raised, extended wingtips. Very good and original.

(300 - 400) 365. Pair of miniature scoters from Maine, 2nd quarter 20th century. Both have inlet heads and are approximately 5” long. Very good and original.

(250 - 350)

End of Session One

133

Session Two

Thursday, November 12, 2015 – 10:00 AM

Ward Brothers

Crisfield, Maryland

Around 1950 the demand for gunning decoys diminished, especially for handmade wooden decoys. Wood supplies became scarce resulting in high prices for material. It became difficult to turn out a good decoy for the price people were willing to pay. Rigs were also smaller than in the earlier days. During this time Steve started to make make miniatures and also carved what he called “gunning decoys collector grade” which were panted by Lem. By 1957 production of true working decoys was completely phased out. Lem started to make a few ornamentals about 1951. From the very beginning he worked out his own styles and patterns without the benefit of having seen the work of others. He graciously admitted, “you have to have a feel for it”

134

376

376 Detail

376 Detail

376. Decorative Canada goose in content pose, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed, “For Purcell Jones, 1972” with a poem on the underside. Raised extended wingtips and fanned out tail. Good paint and feather carving detail. Very slight paint shrinkage at the front of one wing, otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(20,000 - 30,000)

135

377

378

378 Detail

377 Detail 377. Pair of canvasbacks, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1962. Both have slightly turned heads, raised extended wingtips, and fluted tails. Near mint original paint; one of the hen’s wingtips has a thin crack through it.

136

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(6,500 - 9,500)

378. Pair of decorative widgeon, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1958. Both have carved, crossed wingtips and carved secondaries. Exceptional paint detail. Near mint original paint; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Newcomb collection. Formerly in the collection of Somers G. Headly. Stamped “SGH” in underside.

(6,000 - 9,000)

379

380

379 Detail

379. Decorative pintail drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed, “Made for Fred and Leigh Ellebergs collection, 1965”. In preening pose with lifted wings. Good carving detail. Original paint with a few small rubs; tail sprig has been repainted at end, but x-ray shows no repair.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(4,000 - 6,000)

380 Detail

380. Preening black duck with lifted wings, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1959 “Deluxe grade for Norris Pratt collection”. Carved primaries and secondaries and fluted tail. Original paint with good detail and a few small rubs; one wingtip has been broken off and reattached.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(5,000 - 7,000) 137

381. Decorative bufflehead drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1969. Relief wing carving, detailed wingtip and tail carving. Carved on underside of tail. Slightly turned head and in resting pose with sleepy eyes. Very good and original.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(3,000 - 5,000)

382.

Bluewing teal hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1966. Hollow carved with slightly turned head and raised wingtips. Original paint with slight crazing and wear; “in the making” rough spot on one edge of tail.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(2,500 - 3,500)

381

382

383.

Decorative ruddy duck, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated “1969. William Cross collection”.

Slightly turned head, relief wing carving with carved wingtips and fluted tail. Original and good.

383 383 Detail

138

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(3,000 - 5,000)

384

385 385 Detail

384 Detail

384. Pair of shovelers, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1961. Balsa bodies with slight turned cedar heads. Both have carved crossed wingtips and fluted tails. Very good and original.

385. Decorative bluewing teal drake in preening pose, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1966.

Lifted wings with detailed feather carving and fluted tail. Very good and original.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(6,000 - 9,000)

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(4,000 - 6,000) 139

386

387

388

389

390

386. Pair of mergansers, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Both have horse hair crests, carved wingtips, and slightly turned heads. Good feather paint detail.

Mueller brand in undersides. Very good and original.

Provenance: Denesevich collection.

(1,750 - 2,250)

387. Full size robin carved on stump standing next to carved plant, John Sharp. Signed and dated 1981.

Approximately 10” in diameter and 6 1/2” tall. Several cracks in base otherwise excellent and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,000 - 1,500)

388. Lesser yellowlegs, Lloyd Johnson, Bayhead, New Jersey. Slightly turned head, relief carving with relief 140

wingtips. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(1,200 - 1,500)

389. Preening pintail hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1946. Lifted wings and fanned out tail. Decoy was repainted by Lem Ward for Mort Hanson, Sr.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.(1,000 - 2,000)

390. Carving of cow moose, bear, and calf. Entitled “Thwarted” by Alexander Dumas. Signed and dated 1987.

Approximately 12” tall. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(700 - 900)

391

392

393

394

395

391. Three full size carvings, Jack and Bette Holt. Willet, brown thrasher, and a goldfinch. All are signed. Detailed feather carving and turned heads. All on original bases. Original and good.

(1,250 - 1,750) 392. 1/2 size mallard hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Cedar construction with slightly turned head and lifted wingtips. Signed and dated 1948. Very good and original.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(800 - 1,200)

393. 1/2 size Canada goose, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. Approximately 14” long. Scratch loop feather

painting. Original paint with minor wear; paint shrinkage on back and tail; age split in one side.

(1,200 - 1,500) 394. Mallard drake, Corbin Reed, Cape Charles, Virginia. Signed and dated 1984. Relief wing carving with carved wingtips. Very good and original.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(600 - 900)

395. Mallard drake in content pose, Corbin Reed, Cape Charles, Virginia. Near mint original paint; structurally very good.

Provenance: Mallar collection. Formerly in the collection of Roy Bull, Bull collection brand in underside.

(600 - 900) 141

Elmer Crowell

1864 - 1954 East Harwich, Massachusetts 396. Full size decorative sanderling, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. On carved wooden base. Approximately 4 3/4” tall. Tip of bill has been very slightly blunted, otherwise very good and original.

(5,000 - 7,000)

396

397. Full size standing blue jay on carved leaf, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Approximately 6 1/2” tall. Signed on the underside of the base. Very good and original.

(5,000 - 7,000)

397

142

398. Full size hanging game carving of a lesser yellowlegs, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s “AE Crowell and Son” blue paper label on back of board. Fine paint and carving detail. Very good and original.

(9,500 - 12,500)

398 Detail

398

143

399. Decorative black crowned night heron, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Approximately 5” tall. On carved wooden base. Very good and original.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Joseph French, “JB French” stamp on underside of base.

(3,000 - 5,000)

400.

Full size standing mallard drake, Hampton Barnes, Parksley, Virginia. Detailed wingtip carving, fluted tail, and slightly turned head. Near mint original paint; a few small dents.

(650 - 950)

401. Full size standing wood duck, Sean Sutton, Paulsboro, New Jersey. Carved, crossed wingtips, fluted tail, and slightly open bill. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200)

399

400

144

401

402

403

404

405

406

*402. Full size wooden carved California quail, Richard Quillen. Signed and dated 2006. Very good and original.

(600 - 900) *403. Wooden carved family of quail. Original and good.

(650 - 950) 404. Hollow carved Canada goose, John McLoughlin, Bordentown, New Jersey. Signed. Written on underside is “Second place 1975 PSWA decoy contest.” Fine carving and painting detail with turned head and carved, crossed wingtips. Very good and original.

Provenance: Hanley collection.

405.

Pair of hooded mergansers, Armand Carney, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Signed and dated 1972. Both have slightly turned heads and detailed feather carving. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(600 - 900)

406. Preening pintail hen, Jimmie Vizier, Galliano, Louisiana. Dated 1991. Signed “Carved for Richard Denesevich”. Raised and carved primaries and secondaries. Fluted tail. Excellent and original.

(500 - 800)

(2,000 - 3,000) 145

P Sam Dyk

Virginia C O L L E C T O R Eli Doughty

Hog Island, Virginia

R O

SALISBURY, M

A“pioneer”decoy on Maryland’s

To most decoy collectors, Sam Dyke is the that he’s “only” a volunteer. But he’s been opened in 1975. Now holding the positio sibility, as he explains it, is “keeping the i part of that task is to organize and catalo Sam needed Dyke holding of Museum’s permanen varietyone to the his favorite asts willdecoys, alwaysthis have a reason to schedule Eli Doughty brant hand are ever-present, and his work on la featured Illinois River decoy display showc The brant, a small, gregarious, coastal goose, has been a favorite with gunners

S

and decoy makers for over 100 years. multitude of brant decoys in differeing, a natural part of that experience. Collecting am, A who lives in Salisbury, older decoys Maryland, just a short drive from individual styles is the result. This happy situation gives a decoy collector anexpanded on that.”

There were very few people at that time the Museum, is originally from excellent opportunity toPennsylvania focus a collecion ondeveloped a single species. collecting decoys on the Eastern Shore, so where he most collectors were on their own. “At that an early interest in upland bird time we were all basically pioneers,” he hunting. His mother gave him his first FromRiver the desk of an Sam Dyke, eventually decoy, a hollow Delaware bird by unknown maker,published but it really the Museum magazine. in wasn’t the Ward catalyst for his future passion. “I thought it was a neat thing to put on my shelf, a curio,” he says, “but I never knew that I’d get into decoy collecting.” But in 1957 his work brought him to the Eastern Shore and he soon became a duck hunter.

“There were still old wooden birds being used at that time, plenty of them,” he says.

So as many early collectors, the days spent in a duck blind brought about an allure Cobb Island curlew and robin snipe with carved for old decoys. “I’ve carved my own and eyes, split tails and wonderfully executed S-wing relief used them,” Sam explains, “so decoys were carving.

407 Detail

146

Dropped tail yellowlegs with whimsical polka dot feather pattern by Dave “Umbrella” Watson of Chincoteague, Virginia.

Feeding black-bellied plover with carved eyes, split tail and relief wing carving by an unknown Accomac, Virginia maker.

407 Detail 407. Important brant, Eli Doughty, Hog Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. In content pose with raised “V” wingtip carving. Very appealing old in use repaint; minor wear; small cracks and dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from William Mackey in 1970, Mackey collection stamp in underside.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 143.

(35,000 - 45,000)

407

147

408. Balsa brant, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Slightly turned head raised “V” wing carving and fluted tail. Original paint with minor wear; bill has been blunted slightly; a few small dents; small crack in one side.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1970.

(3,000 - 5,000)

408 409.

Pair of bluebills, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague Virginia. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; numerous cracks in bodies; hen has replaced bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired in 1967. (3,000 - 4,000)

409

410. Pintail drake, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia, 2nd quarter 20th century. Solid body with tack eyes. Birch made twelve of these decoys but did not paint them.

The owner Mr. Byrd of Keller, Virginia painted it. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; thin surface crack in one side of neck.

410

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from William Purnell in 1979.

(3,000 - 5,000)

411. Black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1930s. Round body style. Original paint with fading and shrinkage; some neck filler missing; crack at neck base.

411 148

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired at a Longfellow auction in 1974.

(1,500 - 2,000)

412

413

412. Balsa carved Canada goose, Dave “Umbrella” Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Two piece body joined by several 1” diameter dowels. Original paint by Ira Hudson on much of the decoy; some touchup to parts of the black areas and much of the head; vertical crack in back of head with small pieces missing.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1965.

(3,000 - 5,000)

413. Hollow carved Canada goose, Dave “Umbrella” Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Appealing old in use repaint with some original showing; crack in back and neck.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1986.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p.

77.

(3,000 - 4,000) 149

Dave “Umbrella� Watson 1851 - 1938 Chincoteague, Virginia

Born 1851 in Northampton County, Virginia, Watson eventually relocated to Chincoteague, Virginia. He resided there until his death in 1938. Watson made a living like most men on the island market gunning, guiding and carving decoys when time allowed. In the spring and summer, he would harvest oysters and fish when time permitted. He was given his nickname because of the umbrella that he always had at his side. Known for making geese, brant, black ducks and pintails, almost all have glass eyes and a distinctive carved browline making them easily identifiable.

414 Detail

150

414. Important and very rare pintail drake, Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow carved with raised “V” wingtip carving.

Subtle feather paint detail. Rats Paw brand in underside, which is the brand for the Assateague Rod and Gun Club. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear, mostly on breast; several small shot scars on back.

414 Detail

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired as a gift in 1965 from Dave Watson, Jr., Willis Wharf, Virginia.

(20,000 - 30,000)

414

151

415

416

417

418

420

419

415. Swimming brant, Hanson Downes, North Hampton County, Virginia. Original paint with minor wear; age split in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from William Purnell in 1968.

(1,500 - 2,000)

416. Merganser drake from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, 2nd quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; crack in underside.

Provenance: Hanley collection.

(800 - 1,200)

417. Tip up brant from Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Branded “GRA”, for Green Run Association, Assateague, Island. Original paint by Ira Hudson with minor wear; crack in back; small rough spots.

canvasback drake and a bluebill hen. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; a few small dents. (800 - 1,200) 419. Rare greenwing teal hen, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Paint has been restored; crack and rough area in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Ireland in 1970 via a trade.

(600 - 900)

420. Pair of redheads, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Repainted as bluebills by Hudson; small dents and cracks; minor roughness to edges of tails.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1967.

(600 - 900)

421.

Black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Round body style with paddle tail. Worn original paint; age split in underside; numerous cracks and dents; thin chip missing from one edge of tail.

Provenance: Hanley collection.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from William Purnell in 1979.

(600 - 900)

418. Two decoys, Miles Hancock, Chincoteague, Virginia. A 152

421

(600 - 900)

422

422 Detail

422 Detail

422. Finely painted black duck, Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving and glass eyes. Signed on underside “Dave Umbrella Watson, Chincoteague, 1902.” Original paint with good feather detail and minor wear; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Mackey in 1970.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 81.

(6,500 - 9,500) 153

New England 423 Detail

423. Large Canada goose, Charles Safford, Gloucester, Massachusetts. Number “15” has been stenciled on the back.

Branded “C.H. Safford” in underside. Original paint with moderate wear; age split in back; slight roughness to one edge of bill.

(3,000 - 5,000)

423

424

424. Canvas over wooden frame Canada goose, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration and wear on most of the body; old repaint to white area under the tail; old overpaint has been taken off the breast and the head; crack in one side of breast; a few worn spots in canvas.

(3,000 - 5,000)

425. Working black duck decoy, Charles Hart, Gloucester, Massachusetts. Hollowed out from the underside with detailed feather carving. Original paint with minor wear, mostly to edges of tail feathers.

(3,000 - 4,000)

425 426. Stylish eider drake from the central Maine coast, last quarter 19th century. Inlet head. Branded 1890 in the underside. Old writing on underside in pencil says the decoy came from Monhegan Island. Old in use repaint; lightly hit by shot; crack through bill.

(3,000 - 4,000)

426 154

Preston Wright

Osterville, Massachusetts

427

427 Detail

427. Merganser drake, Preston Wright, Osterville, Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. Relief wing carving, carved eyes, nostrils and bill, stamped “MR1” on underside. Original paint that has darkened with age; old overpaint has been removed from speculums; old touchup on top of head and small area of one side; a few tiny dents.

Literature: “The Art of the Decoy,”Adele Earnest, 1965, reference Wright RB merganser, p. 112, plate 98. “Cleveland Museum of Art, OH “The Images of Fold Art,” Exhibit & Catalog, 1978. “National Directory Decoy Collectors Book 1,” Published Gene & Linda Kangas, 1978. “Art Academy of Cincinnati, OH. “Folk Art from Collection of Gene & Linda Kangas.” Exhibit & Catalog 1979. “Decoys – A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas 1983, p. 97 and p. 207.

(8,000 - 12,000) 155

George Boyd

1873 - 1941 Seabrook, New Hampshire

In the early days of Decoy collecting (the 1960s-1970s) Boyd was rather anonymous. His works came to auctions labeled “unknown carver.� In the late 1970s Winthrop L. Carter, and Ray Eagan of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, produced a George Boyd decoy show in the art galleries of the University of New Hampshire in 1979. This lead Boyd to his current fame as a exceptionally talented decoy carver.

428 Detail

156

428. Very rare rigmate pair of mergansers, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire. Both have slightly turned heads. Original paint with good patina and minor wear; very slight shrinkage on hen’s back; several small dents; small chip missing from edge of hen’s tail with touchup in the chip.

Literature: “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph, p. 48. “Nicely Carved and Finely Painted,” Jim Cullen, p. 56.

(65,000 - 85,000)

428 Detail

428

157

429

430

431

432

433

434

435

429. Slightly oversize eider drake from the Friendship, Maine area. Carved eyes and inlet head. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; small cracks and dents; wear to edges of tail.

(2,500 - 3,500) 430. Pair of bluebills from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Subtle comb painting on backs. Original and good; lightly hit by shot.

(350 - 450) 431. Goldeneye hen from Massachusetts. Carved crossed wingtips. Branded “TA Dexter”. Old repaint with moderate wear; structurally good.

(350 - 450) 432. Canvas over wire frame Canada goose from South Shore of Massachusetts. Approximately 3’ long. Old in use repaint; a few small tears in canvas; head is an old replacement.

(300 - 500)

158

433. Gull, George Soule, Freeport, Maine. Signed and dated 1967. Slightly turned and lifted head. Wingtip carving. Original paint with some patina and very slight wear; structurally very good; small dent in one side of tip of tail.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Earle Poggemoeller.

(350 - 450)

434. Goldeneye drake from Massachusetts. Glass eyes. Original paint with moderate wear; filled crack in back; small cracks in breast.

(250 - 350) 435.

Goldeneye drake, from Harpswell Massachusetts. Slightly tuned head. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration and wear; a few tiny dents and hairline cracks; very lightly hit by shot.

(800 - 1,200)

Gus Wilson

1864 - 1950 South Portland, Maine

436

436 Detail

436 Detail

436. Rocking Head Red Breasted Merganser Drake, Augustus Aaron Wilson (b1864), Portland, Maine, circa 1910-20. Original hardwood pegs through body. Carved eyes, wings, nostrils and mouth. Stamped on bottom MR1. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; crack through neck; long thin original bill remains unbroken.

Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, 1983, p. 97 and p. 207 color, exact decoy.

(8,000 - 12,000) 159

Maryland

437

438

437 Detail

438 Detail

437. Rare high head style canvasback drake, Taylor Boyd, Perryville, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; moderate wear to black areas; a few tiny dents; slight separation at neck seam.

438. Rare wooden redhead wing duck, Captain Ben Dye, Perryville, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Original paint with good patina and minor wear; the placement of one painted eye was changed when the decoy was made.

160

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1964. One of four dozen purchased for the Honga River Gun Club.

(4,000 - 6,000)

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Mike Keating in 1980.

(4,000 - 6,000)

Lloyd 439 Sterling Detail

Crisfield, Maryland

439 439 Detail

439. Extremely rare greenwing teal hen, Lloyd Sterling, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1900. Signed on the underside by Sterling at a later date. Slightly turned head. Highly detailed scratch feather painting. Near mint original paint; structurally excellent.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(9,000 - 12,000)

161

440. Root head merganser hen attributed to AC Noonan, Oxford, Maryland. “ACN” is carved in the underside for A.C. Noonan. Original paint with moderate wear; tip of bill is blunted slightly.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. in 1978.

(2,000 - 3,000)

440

441. Canvasback hen, James Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents.

(3,000 - 4,000)

441

442. Rare high head canvasback drake wooden wing duck, Charles Nelson Barnard, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. One of a rig of six. White area has old appealing second coat of paint, the rest is original with minor wear; very slight wear to wood on one edge of bill.

(2,500 - 3,500)

442 443. Canvasback drake, Ed Phillips, Cambridge, Maryland. Original paint with minor discoloration and very slight wear; small surface crack in center of back; dent with paint missing in back.

443 162

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired in 1967.

(2,500 - 3,500)

444

444. Very rare brant, Lloyd Sterling, Crisfield, Maryland. Original scratch feather paint with minor to moderate wear; thin crack through neck; crack through bill has been reset with touchup in that area.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired in 1981.

(4,000 - 6,000)

445. Working swan, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1940s. Original paint with significant scuffing; minor wear; thin crack partway through neck; fixed keel.

445

Provenance: Originally owned by Anthony Keen and gunned over at Cove Creek at south end of Kent Island, Maryland.

(3,000 - 5,000)

446. Rare 3/4 size swan, Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Original paint with some discoloration and wear; thin crack through neck.

Provenance: Given to consignor’s father-in-law by Mrs. Jim Currier in 1969. The decoy has been displayed in the Currier’s window for many years.

(2,500 - 3,500)

446 163

Jim Schmiedlin

Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania

447

448

447. Ruddy duck, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Dated 8/02. Head is turned approximately 80 degrees to one side. Original paint with minor wear; a few tiny dents; minimal tail carving.

(4,000 - 6,000)

164

448. Redhead drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Dated 10/91. Head is turned approximately 45 degrees. Wingtip and tail carving. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally very good.

(4,000 - 6,000)

449

450

449. Bluebill hen, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Dated 10/90. Head is turned approximately 20 degrees. Very little feather carving.

(4,000 - 6,000)

450. Surf scoter, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Dated 1995 with write up on underside. Head is slightly lifted and turned.

Feather carving detail. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents.

(4,000 - 6,000)

165

Contemporary Carvings

451

452

453

454

455

456

451. Gunning box with 8 shorebirds and sticks, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1990. One of a kind piece with a mix of robin snipes, plovers, and ruddy turnstones. Decoys have carved eyes, relief wingtip carving and splined bills. Sides of box are made to accommodate 4 sticks each. Top has a place for shotgun shells. Artificially aged and good.

(800 - 1,200) 452. Large hollow carved preening wood duck, Josh Brewer. Signed and dated 2006. Relief wingtip carving. Very good and original.

(600 - 900) 453. Large scoter, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth Connecticut. Mueller brand in underside. Original paint with slight wear and a few small dents.

166

Provenance: Miller collection.

(650 - 950)

454. Old squaw drake, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Slightly turned head. Signed “Made especially for Jack Tierney, Style: working decoy, Keith Mueller.” Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(650 - 950)

455. Large sickle bill curlew, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Hollow carved with hinged body and removable head. Bill comes out as well, and the pieces can be stored inside the body. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 456. Pair of bluewing teal, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Both have “Strunk” stamp in weight. Both have carved, crossed wingtips. Drake is in resting pose, hen is in sleeping pose. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200)

457

458

459

460

461

462

463

464

465

457. Three decoys, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Pair of pintails signed and dated 1976 “From my own rig” and branded. Black duck with raised “V” wingtip carving, signed and dated 2007. Pintails have been used, each has an age split in underside and minor discoloration and wear; black duck is very good and original.

(600 - 900) 458. Three ruddy ducks, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. All are branded. One is signed and dated 1993. Original paint that has been artificially aged; structurally good.

(500 - 700) 459. Swimming coot, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia. Slightly turned head and relief wing carving.

Large “C” carved in underside. Very good and original.

(400 - 600) 460. Three duck heads, Frank Finney, Chincoteague, Virginia. All have been artificially aged.

(350 - 450)

461. Small pair of hooded mergansers, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Branded, signed, and dated 2000.

Raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint that has been artificially aged.

(350 - 450) 462. Pair of greenwing teal, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Branded signed and dated 2000. Very good and original.

(350 - 450) 463. Pair of flat bottom style hooded mergansers, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Branded, signed, and dated 1992. Both have slightly turned heads and raised “V” wingtip carving. Very good and original. (350 - 450) 464.

Decorative running curlew, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Signed. Relief wing carving and carved primaries. Very good and original.

(400 - 600)

465. Pair of hooded mergansers, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Branded, signed, and dated 2007. Very good and original.

(400 - 600)

167

Mason Decoy Factory 1896 - 1924 Detroit, Michigan

466 Detail

466 Detail

168

466. Very rare pair of mergansers, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Early premier grade style, circa 1900. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; lightly hit by shot; hen has a small area of touchup to a paint rub on one speculum; professional touchup to several spots in the black area of the head and back on drake..

Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 71. (15,000 - 20,000)

466

169

467

468

467. Exceptional early challenge grade black duck, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. Retains original Mason challenge ink stamp. Near mint original paint; small in factory crack in back.

(3,500 - 4,500)

170

468. Bluebill drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Snakey head style with spoon bill. Original paint with very minor wear; moderately hit by shot; several tight surface cracks at neck base and slight wear to wood on one side of bill.

(3,000 - 4,000)

469

470 469 Detail

469. Exceptional greenwing teal hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade with slightly lifted head. Near mint original paint; small area on one lower side approximately 3/4” x 3/8” with professional touchup to a scrape; small crack in one side of neck, angling down to the neck seat in the center.

Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 60.

(7,000 - 9,000)

470 Detail

470. Very rare oversize Atlantic model black duck, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade, circa 1905. A very snakey head style. Part of a rig found on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Original paint with very slight wear; three short surface cracks in underside; professional tail chip repair; tight factory filled cracks in body.

(5,000 - 7,000) 171

471

472

471. Bluebill hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade with snakey head style and wide spoon bill. Near mint original paint; lightly hit by shot.

(3,000 - 4,000)

172

472. Black duck, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade with Challenge ink stamp on underside. Exceptional bold loop feather painting with almost no wear; very slight roughness to one side of the bill; professional filled crack in underside. (3,000 - 4,000)

473

473 Detail

473. Outstanding pair of redheads Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Near mint original paint with bold loop feather detail; 4 small shot marks in hen; drake has a very small defect in the wood in one side of breast.

Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 44.

(9,000 - 12,000)

173

474

475

476

477

478

479

474. Rare goldeneye hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade with very early head style, circa 1900. Original paint with good patina and very minor wear; hit by shot on one side.

Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 63.

(2,000 - 3,000)

475. Pintail drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Standard grade with glass eyes. Original paint with very minor wear; some of the neck filler is missing; very minor wear to the wood on one edge of the bill.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

476.

Very rare widgeon drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Standard grade with glass eyes. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear, mostly on underside; small crack in underside; a few small dents.

(2,000 - 3,000)

174

(1,500 - 2,000)

477. Mallard drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Early style premier grade. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents.

(1,750 - 2,250) 478. Grey coot, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; professional tail chip and neck filler repair; a few tiny dents.

(1,500 - 2,000) 479. Two early mason redheads, Detroit, Michigan, last quartet 19th century. Challenge grade. Both have turned heads. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; both have neck filler missing; one has small amount touchup in that area; one has small crack in underside and three half inch holes drilled in underside. (1,500 - 2,500)

Cast Iron Wing DUcks

480

481

482

483

484

485

486

487

488

480. Vintage Heverin pattern cast iron wing duck. Surface is rusted and worn with traces of original paint.

(500 - 800)

485. Bluebill sink box decoy from Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Old paint; some pitting.

(500 - 800)

481. Holly pattern canvasback wing 1900. Surface is rusted and worn.

486. Cast iron sink box decoy from Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Significant pitting.

(300 - 400)

duck, circa (500 - 700)

482. Cast iron brant sink box decoy, from North Carolina, circa 1900. Surface is rusted and worn otherwise good.

(600 - 900) 483. Two piece cast iron sink box decoy mounted on wooden base. Original and good.

(600 - 900) 484.

Cast iron canvasback hen sink box decoy. Approximately 1” diameter hole through tail. Original and good.

(500 - 800)

487. Canvasback sink box decoy form the Chesapeake Bay, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollowed out somewhat from the underside. Pitted and worn; traces of old paint.

(350 - 550) 488. Cast iron sink box decoy, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Starr collection stamp on underside. Significant pitting.

(350 - 450)

175

Frank Kellum

1858 -1930 Babylon, New York Frank Kellum was an occupational carpenter and painter on Long Island who supplemented his income by giving guided tours of Long Island’s Great South Bay. Probably best known for his full body stick up gulls, that have been photographed in numerous decoy publications over the years.

The early and important collector, Malcolm Fleming, owned this gull.

It is photographed twice in “Art of the Decoy,” Adele Earnest. The other known gull was owned by Bill Mackey, Jim McLeery and now Alan Color plate from “The Art of the Decoy,” Adele Earnest

489 Detail

176

and Elaine Haid.

489. Important full body stick up herring gull, Frank Kellum, Babylon, New York, last quarter 19th century. Used at the Wa Wa Yanda Club, Bay Shore, New York, where Kellum was a guide. Original paint that has worn off head and neck area and parts of body to expose natural wood grain, creating a very appealing folk sculpture; stick hole in underside as well as two other holes where perhaps wire legs once existed; written on underside “Fleming collection” and signed by Malcom Fleming; several age cracks in body and head; minor damage at tip of tail and end of bill.

Provenance: Formerly in the Malcom Fleming collection.

Literature: “Decoy Collectors Guide.” “Decoys - A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 310, exact decoy. (25,000 - 35,000)

489 Detail

489

177

490

491

492

494

493

495

496

490. Mallard drake, Joel Barber, Staten Island, New York. Slightly turned head. Autograph by Barber and inscribed that it has been given to Charles Disbrou by his friend Shang Wheeler. Original paint; very slight wear; small dents in tail.

493. Goldeneye hen in rare swimming pose, Gene Wells, Stoney Brook, New York, circa 1900. The decoy has repaint on the white area on the underside and lower sides; the rest is original with minor wear; small dents; small repair to neck base.

Provenance: Mallar collection. From the Richard Bourne auction 6/17/67.

(2,500 - 3,500)

491.

Old squaw drake, Abrem Smith, Freeport, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Glass eyes and relief heart shape wing carving. Original paint; minor wear; a small defect in wood at one wingtip and back of head; minor strengthening on some of the black area.

494. Hooded merganser drake of undetermined age. Relief wing carving and carved bill. Possibly from Long Island, New York. Original paint with moderate wear; a few small dents.

(350 - 450)

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Bud Ward.

Literature: “Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys,” Joe Engers, Editor, p. 109.

(2,000 - 3,000) 492. Canvasback drake, Joel Barber, Staten Island, New York. Barber decoy stamp in underside. Label on underside reads, “From Bellport Decoy Show 1923.” Original paint protected by its original coat of varnish; several small areas on one side where varnish is missing.

(2,750 - 3,250) 178

Provenance: Formerly in the Gerard collection.

(500 - 600)

495. Goldeneye hen, Albert Terry, Riverhead, Long Island, New York, circa 1870s. Serifed “AT” carved in the underside. Old in use repaint; cracks in neck with some wood missing behind nail; lightly hit by shot.

(400 - 600) 496. Two mergansers from the South Shore of Long Island, circa 1900. One has initials “CA” carved in the underside. Old in use repaint; numerous cracks.

(350 - 450)

497 497 Detail

497 Detail 497. Red Breasted Merganser Drake, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Hollow body, two piece decoy with centerline seam. Made with square nails. Relief wing carving, upturned tail, graceful neck, chip carved comb and painted eyes. Body and head in good original detailed paint showing little wear for its age; bill professionally partially restored.

Provenance: Found with an Old Squaw body by the same maker. Stamped on bottom “M2.”

Formerly in the collection of Bud Ward.

Literature: “Decoys,” Linda and Gene Kangas, p. 209 & p. 169 color, exact decoy.

(8,000 - 10,000) 179

Prints and Stamps 498

498

498. Two large prints after John James Audubon. Image sizes approximately 23” x 35”.

“Canvasback duck, view of Baltimore” and “mallard duck”. Engraved, printed, and colored

by R. Halver. These appear to be 40 year old reprints. Mallards excellent; canvasbacks have several off color specs in the sky; frames poor.

(1,250 - 1,750)

180

499

499 Detail

499 Detail 499. Collection of Maryland migratory hunting stamps with hand painted and signed companion pieces by the artists whose art is represented in stamps. 1974 - 2003.

Professionally matted and framed. Stamps are all signed by the artists. Very good and original.

(12,000 - 15,000)

181

500

502

501

502

502

502

500.

Large hand colored engraving of a curlew. Approximately 16” x 21”. Original and good; chipping on frame.

(1,000 - 1,400)

501. Colored lithograph, A. Pope, Jr. Professionally matted and framed. Approximately 14” x 20” image. Original and good.

(500 - 700)

182

502. Four etchings. “Chincoteague Marshes,” “Wings of the morning,” and “Canada geese” by Roland Clark and “Putting out the Decoys,” by Don Swain. Professionally matted and framed. Slight discoloration on Canada geese, otherwise original and good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(1,000 - 1,400)

503

504

503

505

503. ”Dropping In” and “Mallards Rising,” limited edition prints, Roland Clark. Printed by Derrydale Press. Very good and original.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(500 - 800)

504. Cardboard Ward Brothers pintail pattern, mid 1930s. Professionally mounted, matted, and framed as part of the Ward Brothers legacy series. Pattern is fair; the rest very good.

(350 - 550) 505. Collection of 50 federal duck stamps beginning 1934. Professionally matted and framed. 21 are signed by hunters, the others are good.

(650 - 950) 183

Virginia Shorebirds

506

507

508

506. Large curlew from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Paddle tail. Original paint with minor wear; one nail hole on each side probably where wings were attached; bill is a professional replacement.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Reed Muller, 1976.

Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 95, exact decoy.

(4,000 - 6,000) 507. Running curlew , Robert Andrews, Smith Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Large carved “A” under the tail. Worn original paint; crack in underside; lightly hit by shot; small chip missing under face; bill

184

appears to be an old replacement.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1983.

(2,500 - 3,500)

508. Curlew from Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Initials “CM” carved under the tail. Old repaint; bill is an old replacement; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. in 1985.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p.

207, exact decoy.

(4,000 - 6,000)

509 Detail

509

509. Very rare black bellied plover, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia, last half 19th century. Serifed “N” carved in underside. Glass eyes and raised “V” tail carving. Old in use repaint on much of the decoy; most of the paint on the back is original; significantly hit by shot; rough area on top of wingtips with filler added to part of it a long time ago and touchup; bill appears to be an old replacement; some of the black paint on breast appears to be original as well.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired form Bud Ward in 1975.

(12,500 - 17,500)

509 Detail 185

510

511

510. Exceptional black bellied plover, Charles Clark, Chincoteague, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Wide paddle tail and pronounced “beetle” head style. Original paint with feather detail; very minor flaking and wear; small defect in wood in lower breast and near stick hole.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Somers Headly in 1988.

Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 76, exact decoy pictured.

(7,500 - 9,500)

186

511. Running robin snipe in spring plumage, Robert Andrews, Smith Island, Virginia. Large “R” carved under the tail. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1974. From Mackey sale number 5.

(6,500 - 9,500)

512 Detail

512

512. Robin snipe, Albert Cobb, Cobb Island, Virginia, circa 1900. Masonic “A” carved in underside.

Raised “V” wingtip carving with relief carved wings, carved eyes and ridged head. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; lightly hit by shot; minor roughness and small crack in bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from N.H. Coniff in 1967.

(15,000 - 20,000)

512 Detail 187

513

514

515

513.

Dowitcher from Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Fine feather paint detail and shoe button eyes. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; significantly hit by shot; most of the paint is missing from the bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Mort Hanson, Sr./Lloyd Johnson in 1975.

(2,000 - 3,000)

514. Running curlew, attributed to Frank Wheaton, Greenbackville, Virginia. “F” carved in underside. Carved eyes. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; approximately 1/3 of bill is missing; filler in large defect in wood in one side when the decoy was made; small crack in that area; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from William Mackey in 1970.

(3,000 - 5,000)

515. Curlew from the Matthews Rig, Assateague Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Carved “M” in underside. Original paint with minor wear; lightly hit by shot; bill is a replacement.

515 Detail

188

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Mackey in 1970.

Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 95, exact decoy.

(3,500 - 5,500)

516 516 Detail

516 Detail

516. Curlew from Cobb Island, Virginia. Relief wing carving with raised “V” wingtips and carved eyes. Traces of original paint; significantly hit by shot; small cracks; small rough area at wingtips and tip of tail; small chip missing on underside where bill joins head; bill is an old replacement.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1978 from Bud Ward and Vernon Berg.

Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 91, exact decoy. “The Art of the Decoy,” Adele Earnest, p. 164.

(8,000 - 12,000)

189

517

518

517 Detail

518 Detail

517. Balsa yellowlegs, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Raised “V” wing carving and inserted hardwood bill. Fine loop feather painting on back. Original paint with flaking on the bill and minor wear mostly around tail; small dent in one side of tail.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from J. Leavens in 1971.

(5,000 - 8,000)

190

518. Running curlew from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Carved eyes. Original paint with moderate wear; lightly hit by shot; knot with a small hole in center of it in one side; thin cracks in both sides; bill is an old replacement with filler added at back of head a long time ago.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Formerly in the collection of William Mackey, Mackey collection stamp on underside. Acquired at the 1973 Mackey collection sale.

(4,000 - 6,000)

519

519 Detail

519 Detail

519. Very rare curlew, Luther Lee Nottingham, Cape Charles, Virginia. Two piece body construction with slightly turned head and relief wing carving. Worn paint, some of which appears to be original; lightly hit by shot; a portion of the tail and the area around the stick hole have been gnawed off by rats; minor roughness; wear to bill and face; small cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Roy Bull in 1976.

Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 90 and 95, exact decoy pictured.

(9,500 - 12,500) 191

520

521

522

520. Plover, Charles Clark, Chincoteague, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Worn original paint; hit by shot; small cracks.

(1,500 - 2,500) 521. Two golden plover, from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Both have bills that are squared off when joining head. Original paint with moderate wear; larger one has minor roughness to top of head; small dents.

192

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Dick McIntyre in 2002.

(1,250 - 1,750)

522.

Black bellied plover, from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, circa 1900. Relief wing carving. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on bill; lightly hit by shot.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1984, branded “P” under tail.

(2,500 - 3,500)

522A

522A. Very rare curlew Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint with subtle scratch feather painting; a few small dents; very slight wear, mostly on bill.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired in 2003 from Reggie Birch, who obtained it from Ray Charnock, who’s father lived at Willis Wharf and purchased 12 curlew from Charles Birch.

Ten were lost in a Delaware house fire.

Literature: Richard Oliver auction, 10/94, catalog cover, rigmate.

(6,500 - 9,500)

522A Detail

522B. Vintage Nantucket basket pocket book, Geanne Reis. Stamped “Made

by Geanne Reis, Nantucket Island”.

Approximately 11 1/2” wide with whale bone handle swivels and clasp and carved whale on top. Very slight damage to woven area of clasp, otherwise very good and original with good patina.

(2,500 - 3,500)

522B Detail

522B

193

Contemporary Carvings

552C

522D

552E

552F 522C. Pair of wood ducks, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia. Both have a large “C” stamped in the underside.

Very good and original.

(650 - 950) 522D. Pair of 1/2 size flying canvasbacks, George Strunk Glendora, New Jersey. Signed on the back of the plaque.

Good carving detail. Very good and original. (500 - 800) 522E. Carved pike with perch, Marcel Meloche. Signed and dated 1997. Approximately 26” long. Part of one fin has 194

been broken off and reattached.

Provenance: Second place ribbon 1998, Ward World Fish Carving Competition. Decorative fish category. First place ribbon Pacific Southwest Wildfowl Arts Fish Fresh Water Open.

(500 - 800)

522F. Carved wooden plaque of flip tailed trout, Bill Feasel, Green Springs, Ohio. Carved and painted in the Oscar Peterson style. Branded “WF” on the back. Plaque is 38”, fish is 23”. Excellent.

(300 - 500)

523

524

525

526

527

528

529

530

531

523. Pair of mergansers, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Carved in the Delaware River tradition. Branded and signed. Very good and original.

(700 - 900) 524. Pair of gadwalls, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Carved in the Delaware River tradition. Stamped in weight. Very good and original.

(650 - 950) 525. Black duck, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Carved, crossed wingtips, fluted tail, and turned head. “G. Strunk” stamped in weight. Very good and original.

(400 - 600) 526. Owl with dead crow, Bill Feasel, Green Springs, Ohio. Owl is perched on dead crow base. Crow’s talon and beak appear to be some kind of animal claw. Owl has glass eyes and is branded “F” on underside. Excellent and original.

(500 - 800) 527. Working style crow decoy, Davison Hawthorne, Greenville, Delaware. Signed. Raised wingtips. Very good and original.

Provenance: Miller collection.

(500 - 800)

528. Brant with carved, crossed wingtips, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Signed. Also “G. Strunk” stamped in weight. Very minor discoloration on underside; otherwise very good and original.

(400 - 600) 529. Pair of 1/3 size mallards, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Both have slightly turned heads and raised carved wingtips. Both are signed and dated 1961 and have balsa bodies. Small paint rub missing from top of each head; a few tiny dents; otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(400 - 600)

530. Pair of gadwalls carved in the Delaware River tradition, John Ward. “Hand carved by John Ward” stamped in undersides. Very good and original.

Provenance: Drake was blue ribbon winner in advance category, Two Rivers exhibition, hen 2nd place ribbon same exhibition. Drake also has 2nd place ribbon for best in category for the same exhibition.

(650 - 950) 531. Pair of pintails, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. Stamped in weight. Carved in the Delaware River tradition. Very good and original.

(600 - 900)

195

Ward Brothers

Crisfield, Maryland In the 1930’s the Ward brothers were at the top of their game for several reasons. They had been making decoys since about 1918 so they had honed their skills of carving and painting. They were young and physically able to handle the grind of turning out large volumes of decoys but also mentally able to concentrate on the quality. They were still somewhat undiscovered as celebrities so they did not yet have the distractions that burdened them in their later years. The decoys made during these years are sought after by collectors from across the globe.

532 Detail

533 Detail

532. Classic 1936 model canvasback drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Slightly turned and lifted head.

Flared bill with top of head squared off. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; slight separation at neck seam; small amount of touchup to filler at one side of neck base.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Literature: “Ward Brothers Decoys,” Ron Gard and Brian McGrath, p. 15.

(12,000 - 15,000)

196

533. Classic 1936 model canvasback hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Very graceful slightly turned head with flared bill and squared off top. Extra feather paint detail on sides. Original paint; very minor discoloration and wear; small surface crack in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(14,000 - 18,000)

532

533

532 Detail

533 Detail

197

534

535

534. Rigmate pair of mergansers, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Shooting stool models. Signed and dated 1967, “For Jim and Joe West”. Both have relief wingtip carving and slightly turned heads. Near mint original paint; hen has two cracks in the underside.

198

Provenance: Newcomb collection.

(6,000 - 9,000)

535.

Pintail drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 model with balsa body, slightly turned cedar head, and inserted cedar tail. Original keel. Original paint with slight wear; a few tiny dents.

(3,500 - 5,500)

536

536 Detail

536 Detail

536. Pintail drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Stylish 1932 model with turned head. Original paint with minor wear; separation at neck seat, small cracks in body; most of the bill is a professional replacement; small tail chip has been planed flat with touchup in that area.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from William Mackey in 1971. Exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1977.

(20,000 - 30,000)

199

537

538

537. Canada goose, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1930s. Original paint with moderate shrinkage and wear; cracks in back and neck.

(5,000 - 7,000)

538. Canada goose, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1936 model with slightly turned head and ice dip behind neck. Repainted by Lem Ward in 1966; small cracks.

200

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from an unknown source in Cambridge, Maryland in 1965.

(2,000 - 3,000)

539. 1932 model canvasback hen, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed. Slightly turned head and ice dip behind neck. Near mint, never used.

Literature: “Ward Brothers Decoys,” Ron Gard and Brian McGrath, p. 13.

(20,000 - 25,000)

539

539 Detail

539 Detail

540. 1932 model canvasback drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed. Original paint on most of the decoy; minor wear; black areas have been repainted; lightly hit by shot.

540

540 Detail

202

Literature: “The Art of the Decoy,” Adele Earnest, p. 181, exact decoy.

(8,000 - 12,000)

541

541 Detail

541 Detail 541. Bluebill hen and drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1932 models with slightly turned heads. Both are signed. Original paint with minor dislocation and wear; filler at top of head on hen has risen slightly; hairline crack in hens back.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1971.

(16,000 - 20,000)

203

Virginia 542 Detail

542

543

543 Detail

542. Hollow carved black duck, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia. Serifed “N” carved in underside. Raised “V” wingtips carving and inlet head with shoe button eyes. Worn old paint; two cracks in top of head; small crack in underside.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Mackey in 1972.

(5,000 - 8,000)

543. Hollow carved brant, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; slight neck separation at neck seam; small crack partway through neck; slight roughness to one edge of tail.

204

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1966. Sam’s notes indicate that the decoy was “reportedly used at the Smith Island Club, 1900-1910”.

(4,000 - 6,000)

544

544 Detail

544 Detail

544. Hollow carved bluebill drake, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia. Large serifed “N” carved on underside. Inlet head and carved eyes.

Raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint with minor to moderate wear on back, the rest has old in use repaint; neck seat has risen slightly; two cracks in head.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1971.

(15,000 - 20,000)

205

545. Bufflehead hen and drake, Charles Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia. Both are hollow carved and branded “CEM”. Both have old repaint and small cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Sam’s notes indicate hen was acquired from Vogel in 1965 and the drake from Bobby Richardson in 1980.

(2,000 - 3,000)

545

546. Hollow carved brant, Charles Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint by Ira Hudson on back and sides; the rest has old in use repaint.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1982.

(3,000 - 5,000)

546

547 547.

548

Black duck Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Paint has been restored in Hudson’s style; small cracks and dents; age split in underside.

(700 - 1,000)

548. Root head brant from Hog Island, Virginia. Raised “V” wingtip carving. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; defect in wood in one side; crack through neck; chip missing from where nail was added at the crack.

206

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1973. Notes read “Thought to be made by solid

549 myrtle wood.”

(400 - 600)

549. Hollow carved black duck, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Appealing old in use repaint; minor roughness to edges of tail; shallow rough spot on one side.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired at the November 1985 Richard Oliver decoy auction.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p.

139, exact decoy pictured.

(500 - 800)

550

550 Detail 550.

Brant, Nathan Cobb, Jr., Cobb Island, Virginia, last quarter 19th century. Raised wingtip carving. Backward “N” carved in underside. Carved eyes.

Inset hardwood bill. Old in use repaint; with traces of original showing on the sides; cracks in head and neck; large chip missing from neck base with filler added a long time ago.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Bill Mackey in 1970.

(14,000 - 18,000)

207

Decoratives

551

552

553

554

555

556

551. Bufflehead drake, Joe Wooster, Buckeye Lake, Ohio. Made for Phyllis Ellison. Has Wooster’s sticker on underside with Ashley, Ohio address. Also signed by Wooster on underside. Well executed wing and tail carving. Excellent and original.

(500 - 800) 552. Shoveler hen with turned head, Keith Mueller, Killingsworth, Connecticut. Mueller brand in underside.

Carved crossed wingtips and good paint detail. Very good and original.

Provenance: Denesevich collection.

(600 - 900)

553. 1/4 size wood duck on simulated pond base, Tom Schroeder, Detroit, Michigan. Good carving detail. Total length is 11”. Damage to carved wooden reeds, otherwise original and good.

208

Provenance: Flowers collection.

(650 - 950)

554. Large pintail drake, Jude Brunet, New Orleans, Louisiana. Slightly turned head and relief wing carving.

Inscribed in the underside is “My first gunning decoy and my first sale. Jude Brunet, 2/12/1990. Carved for collection of John Potts.” Original paint with a few small scuffs; otherwise very good.

(500 - 800) 555. Decorative yellowlegs on driftwood base, Lloyd Tyler, Crisfield, Maryland. Very good and original. (400 - 600) 556. Pair of hollow carved canvasbacks, Al Burk. Signed and dated 1988. Highly detailed feather carving with raised wingtips. Drake has slightly turned head. Very good and original.

(650 - 950)

557. 3/4 size flying mallard drake, Delbert Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. 16” long. Original paint with slight wear; small chip missing where neck was nailed on from when the decoy was made; the chipped area has original paint in it.

(5,000 - 8,000)

557

558. Large flying mallard drake, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine. 24” wing span. Made to hang from ceiling. Original paint with very minor weathering; tiny chip missing from one wingtip.

(4,000 - 6,000)

558

209

559

561

*559. Life size red tail hawk on driftwood base. Approximately 53” tall. Reglued feathers in head with a piece missing; otherwise original and good.

(400 - 600) *560. Wood duck hen and drake with chick in hollow tree. Approximately 66” tall. Original and good.

(650 - 950)

210

560

562

561. Decorative full size wooden carved turkey with iron leg and wooden base, Mike Borrett, Madison, Wisconsin. “Borrett ‘11” is carved under the tail. Very good and original.

(500 - 800) 562. Carved wooden moose, Jerry Holten, Clam Lake, Wisconsin. Approximately 33” long. Original surface, reglued crack in one foot; separation where one leg joins body.

(350 - 550)

563

564

*563. Large wooden carved rooster. Turned head and detailed feather carving. Approximately 25” tall. Very good and original.

(400 - 600)

564. Pair of flying redheads with removable wings, Mike Valley, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Very good and original.

(600 - 900)

565. Large bass on wooden base, Jerry Holten, Clam Lake, Wisconsin. Approximately 3’ long. Signed “Holten”. Original and good.

(400 - 600)

565

566. Carved wooden pike, Mike Valley, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Approximately 40” long. Signed and dated 1999. Original and good.

(400 - 600)

566

211

567

568

569

570

571

572

567. Five carved songbirds, Ira James Thornes, Clam, Virginia. Around 4” tall. Signed. Original and good.

(350 - 450)

570. Pair of 1/3 size mergansers similar to the work of the Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Both have slightly turned heads. Very good and original.

(500 - 800)

568. Four cardinals, Ira James Thornes, Clam, Virginia. Signed. Largest one is approximately 6” long. Original and good.

(350 - 450)

571. Full size wooden carved chickadee, Mary Worrilow. Signed and dated 1983. Good carving detail. Very good and original.

(350 - 450)

569. Four 1/3 size carvings, Oliver Lawson, Crisfield, Maryland. Pair of canvasbacks, signed and dated 1962.

Pair of pintails are unsigned. All have raised carved wingtips and slightly turned heads. Minor discoloration on canvasbacks, otherwise very good and original.

572. Full size indigo bunting, Sal Massulli. Good carving detail. Very good and original.

(350 - 450)

212

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(400 - 600)

Miscellaneous Decoys

573

574

575

576

577

578

579 573. English wood pigeon with raised wing and split tail. Head is slightly turned. Moderate wear; with paint worn at wingtips and tail tips; chip missing from tail; a few rubs at body and head; original paint.

(400 - 500)

576. Five miniatures. A partridge by Harold Gibbs with small chip missing from bill. A quail and tiny partridge by J. Ahearn. A woodcock by A.J. Dettman. Another partridge. other than bill chip. Condition is good.

(500 - 700)

574. Well executed English wood pigeon with skillfully carved wing and tail. Made from two pieces of wood with seam running under the belly. Strong original paint; chip missing from underside of bill; slight separation at seam on underside, otherwise very good and original.

(400 - 600)

577. Full size songbird perched on branch attached to fungus, maker unknown, 1st quarter 20th century. Glass eyes. A few small areas where paint has flaked. The entire piece has been protected by a light coat of varnish. Bird measures 16”, head to tail.

(400 - 600)

575. Flicker with open mouth, John Evans, Crisfield, Maryland. Signed and dated 1962. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good.

(200 - 300)

578.

Greenwing teal, Ed Grace or H. Boddy, Chatham Kent, United Kingdom. Good paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

(350 - 450)

579. Set of 24 rubber English pigeons with 18 sticks, James Manes Company, Gloucester, England. Each pigeon has the name embossed in the underside. Original and good.

(400 - 600) 213

New Jersey and Delaware River

580

581

581 Detail

580 Detail

580. Rare rigmate pair of mergansers, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Original paint with moderate wear; a few small dents; one shot scar on drake’s back.

581.

Rare rigmate pair of goldeneye, Rhodes Truex, Absecon, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; a few tiny dents.

Provenance: Shelburne Museum collection stamp on the underside of each.

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, p. 56.

(6,000 - 8,000)

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, p. 44.

(6,500 - 9,500)

214

582

583

584

585

586

587

582. Canada goose, Mel Grauch, Pitman, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Ice dip behind head. Repainted

by Lem Ward around 1950; moderate wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Purchased by the consignor from John Hillman in 1970.

(1,250 - 1,750)

583. Mallard drake with turned head, Lloyd Johnson, Bayhead, New Jersey. Signed on the underside. Detailed wingtip carving and fluted tail. Original and good.

(1,500 - 2,500) 584. Pair of mallards, Bill Cranmer, Beach Haven, New Jersey. Both have slightly turned heads. Very good and original.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

585. Brant, Rhodes Truex, Absecon, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; small area of touchup to each side of neck base.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 155.

(950 - 1,250)

586. Canada goose, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Old in use repaint; old neck crack repairs; small crack in underside.

(800 - 1,200) 587. Brant, attributed to Stanley Grant, Barnegat, New Jersey. Very good and original; decoy appears to have never been used, minor discoloration on white areas.

(800 - 1,200)

(650 - 950) 215

Nathan Rowley Horner 1881 - 1942 West Creek, New Jersey

It’s no coincidence that Horner’s decoys are similar in style to those made by H.V. 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.

Rowley Horner with his son, Watson

588 Detail

216

588. Classic brant, Rowley Horner, West Creek, New Jersey. Original paint with good detail and minor wear; chip was broken out under the bill and reattached with a small amount of filler at the seam.

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

Exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1987, paper label on underside. Noyes museum ink stamp on underside.

Literature: “Classic New Jersey Decoys,” James Doherty, p. 96.

(17,500 - 22,500)

588

588 Detail

217

589

590

591

592

593

594

595

596

597

589. Black duck, Clark Madera, Pitman, New Jersey. Appealing old in use repaint; minor wear; a few tiny dents.

(500 - 800) 590. Two early style decoys, Hurley Conklin, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Both appear to have been made in the early 1960s. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Both have the Mackey collection stamp on the underside and were purchased by the consignor at the July 1973 Mackey collection sale at the Richard Bourne gallery.

(600 - 900) 591. Canada goose, attributed to Joe King, Manahawkin New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Old in use repaint; structurally good.

(500 - 800) 592. Pair of canvasbacks, Wildfowler Decoy Factory, Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Hen is modeled from a Ward Brothers decoy. Both are painted by Wildfowler employee William Keim and signed under the bills. Both are signed and dated 1968 by Charles Birdsall and have the Wildfowler Point Pleasant brand and ink stamp on the underside. Slight discoloration on light areas; otherwise very good.

(650 - 950) 593. Early greenwing teal from Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, circa 1900. Worn paint; cracks, shotmarks and dents.

(350 - 450) 218

594. Pair of very rare cork bodied mallards, Wildfowler Decoy Factory, Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Both are signed, “One of two first cork by Wildfowler Decoys.

Point Pleasant New Jersey, Charles Birdsall, 1972.”

Original paint with minor flaking on drake; each has a thin coat of varnish applied; structurally good. (600 - 900) 595. Pair of widgeon, Wildfowler Decoy Factory, Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Signed by Charles Birdsall and dated 1968. Both have the Wildfowler Point Pleasant ink stamp and brand on underside. Slightly turned heads. Very good and original.

(650 - 950) 596. Pair of bluebills, Wildfowler Decoy Factory Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Both have slightly turned heads and were painted by Wilddfowler employee William Keim. Signed under the bills. Both are signed and dated

by Charles Birdsall 1968 and have the Wildfowler Point Pleasant ink stamp on the underside. Very good and original.

(650 - 950) 597. Pair of mallards, Wildfowler Decoy Factory, Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Both are signed and dated

by Charles Birdsall. Painted by Wildfowler employee William Keim and signed under the bill. Both have slightly turned heads and Wildfowler Point Pleasant ink stamp and brand on underside. Very good and original. (650 - 950)

598

599

599 Detail

598 Detail

598. Very rare swimming Canada goose, Harry V. Shourds, Tuckerton, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with moderate wear; thin crack in back and tail; professional repair to a crack in the neck; old touchup on most of the white areas.

(6,000 - 8,000)

599. Rare bluebill drake, Clark Madera, Pitman, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Relief wing carving with good paint detail. Original paint with slight wear and very good patina; hairline crack in neck.

Literature ”New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 186.

(2,000 - 3,000) 219

599A

599B

599C

599D

599E 599A. Bufflehead drake, Charles Birdsall, Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Branded “CRB” with the inscription on the underside, “Handmade 1954 pre-ownership Wildfowler Decoys.” Never used; original paint protected by an old coat of varnish.

(450 - 650) 599B. Rare pair of buffleheads, Jake Barrett, Somers Point, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with minor wear; moderate wear on lower halves; tiny dents.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of John Hillman, Seagirt, New Jersey. Hillman tag attached.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 147, exact decoys pictured.

(1,000 - 1,400)

599C. Very rare pair of bluebills, Cliff Van Zandt, Townsend’s Inlet, New Jersey, circa 1900. Unusual construction with bottom board added. Appealing old in use repaint; small cracks.

(1,000 - 1,400)

220

599F 599D. Rare pair of buffleheads, Bill Hammel, Leeds Point, New Jersey, first quarter 20th century. Wooden peg construction. Appealing old in use repaint; bill chip repair to hen.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,’ Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., plate 341, exact decoys pictured.

(1,000 1,400)

599E. Rare bluebill drake, Charles Black, Bordentown, New Jersey. Signed on the underside. Relief wing carving with extended wingtips. Near mint; never used.

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

(800 - 1,200)

599F. Pair of pintails, Frank Sidebotham, Andalusa, Pennsylvania. From his personal hunting rig. With lead tag on underside. Stamped “F. Sidebotham FKD Phila.”

Original paint; minor wear on hen; moderate wear on drake; a few small dents.

(1,000 - 1,400)

599G

599H

599G Detail

599H Detail

599G. Canvasback drake, John Dawson, Trenton, New jersey.

2nd quarter 20th century. The initials “JD” are stamped in the underside. Near mint original paint; structurally excellent, never used.

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Dr. James McCleery, McCleery collection stamp on underside. Lot 10 in the Guyette & Schmidt/Sotheby’s January 200 auction. Found on Dawson’s work bench at time of his death

by William J. Mackey. Formerly in the collection of Tony Warring, Dr. McCleery acquired in 1972

Literature: “Call to the Sky,” Robert Shaw, p. 67, exact

decoy. Floating sculpture, Harrison N. Houster and Doug Knight, p. 20. New Jersey Decoys, Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 44.

(4,000 - 6,000) 599H. Pair of black ducks, Jess Heisler, Burlington, New Jersey. One is branded “JA Stokes” for Captain Jim Stokes who hunted on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Original paint; very minor wear; small crack and chips missing from a couple of eyes.

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

(5,000 - 7,000) 221

599I

599J

599K

599L

599M

599N tury. Appealing old repaint; a couple of tiny rough spots near neck base.

(1,000 - 1,400) 599L. Philadelphia School black duck. Tack eyes and doweled body construction. Repainted; a few tiny cracks.

(1,000 - 1,500)

599O 599I. Philadelphia School teal, last quarter 19th century.

Head appears to have been made by John Blair, Sr. Paint was restored a long time ago; crack and rough spots on body.

(1,500 - 2,000) 599J. Philadephia School black duck with doweled body construction. Appealing old repaint; a few tiny dents.

(1,250 - 1,750) 599K. Philadelphia School black duck, last quarter 19th cen222

599M. Philadelphia School pintail drake, last quarter 19th century. Branded “GS Martin”. Hollow with flat bottom style and ice dip behind neck. Paint was restored a long time ago; minor roughess to neck.

(900 - 1,200) 599N. Philadelphia School mallard drake. Hollow carved with shallow “V” wingtip carving. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; a few small dents.

(700 - 1,000) 599O. Swimming Canada goose, John McAnny, New Gretna, New Jersey. Used at the Egg Island Gun Club. Branded “E.I.G.C.” Most of the paint is worn off; cracks and dents.

Provenance: Vermont.

From a home on Lake Champlagne in (900 - 1,200)

600

600A

600B

600C

600D

600E

600. Black duck, John English, Florence, New Jersey, circa 1900. Appealing old in use repaint; a few small dents.

Provenance: Purchased by the consignor by John Hillman in 1982.

Literature: “New Jersey Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., plate 471, exact decoy.

(800 - 1,200)

600A. Sleeping mallard hen, Len Borkowski, Burlington, New Jersey. Original paint with minor wear and a few small dents.

(800 - 1,200) 600B. Large hollow carved pintail drake, John McLoughlin, Bordentown, New Jersey, circa 1950s. Raised wingtip carving. “Joe L.” is carved in the underside. Original paint with good detail and light wear; keel has been remo ved.

(800 - 1,200) 600C. Rare mallard hen, Tom Fitzpatrick, Delanco, New Jersey. Original paint with minor wear; a few small

600F

dents.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(1,750 - 2,250)

600D. Bluebill drake, John English, Florence, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Appealing old in use repaint; a few small dents.

Provenance: From the Perkins Rig, branded JD Perkins.

(600 - 900)

600E. Black duck, Dan English, Florence, New Jersey, 1st quarter 20th century. Appealing old repaint; small shallow hole cut in underside for a name tag; a few small dents.

(650 - 950) 600F. Rigmate pair of mallards, Nick Sachi, Bristol, Pennsylvania. Raised wingtips and slightly turned heads.

Approximately 1.5” of drake’s wingtips replaced; otherwise very good and original.

Provenance: Mallar collection.

(650 - 950) 223

Maryland

600G

600H

601

602

604

603

600G. Pair of wood ducks, attributed to Madison Mitchell, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Unsigned. Original paint with slight discoloration on the white areas of the drake; hen has a small crack near one speculum. (1,250 - 1,750) 600H. Bluebill drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland, circa 1930. Turned head and pinched breast. Old in use repaint with some original showing; lightly hit by shot; small cracks.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Guy Windsor in 1969.

(1,500 - 2,500)

601. 1948 model mallard drake, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. Balsa body with slightly turned head. Original paint with moderate wear; small dents and rough areas in balsa.

(1,250 - 1,750)

224

602. 1936 model pintail, Ward Brothers Crisfield, Maryland. Old repaint with small cracks and dents.

(800 - 1,200) 603. Pair of mallards, Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland. 1948 models with slightly turned heads.

Inscription on underside reads “ID’ed and dated by Lem Ward in 1981.” Old in use repaint; small dents.

Provenance: Hanley collection.

(1,400 - 2,000)

604. Brant, John Warfield Davis, Davis Landing, Delaware, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1976.

(950 - 1,250)

605

606

608

607

609

605. Bluebill drake, John “Daddy” Holly, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 3rd quarter 19th century. Carroll’s Island brand in underside. Old repaint; numerous cracks dents and shot marks.

(2,000 - 3,000)

608. Pair of flat bottom style greater scaup, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 1997. A few small paint rubs, otherwise very good and original.

(800 - 1,200)

606. Rigmate pair of flat bottom style goldeneye, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 1987. Both have slightly turned heads and good paint detail. Very good and original.

(900 - 1,200)

609. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of canvasbacks, signed, accompanied by a 1/3 size pair of canvasbacks, signed and dated 1989. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400)

607. Pair of canvasbacks, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Painted eyes. Original paint with very minor discoloration; vertical hairline crack in one side of drake, next to knot.

(650 - 950) 225

610

611

612

613

615

614 610. Pintail drake, by a member of the Sterling Family, Crisfield, Maryland. Original paint with discoloration and minor wear; thin crack through neck; lightly hit by shot.

(1,000 - 1,500) 611. Four items, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Pair of widgeon signed and dated 1975 accompanied by 1/3 size widgeon signed and dated 1983.

1/3 widgeon have slightly turned heads. Very good and original.

(1,000 - 1,400) 612. Reproduction of a greenwing teal hen, Charles Wilson, Havre de Grace, Maryland, circa 1900. Tack eyes. Original paint with very minor wear; mostly on extremeties; very subtle speculum paintings; small crack through neck; small chip where tail tie strap was removed.

226

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from Davison Hawthorne in 1984. Exhibited at Smithsonian in 1987.

(900 - 1,200)

613. Pair of redheads, Charlie Joiner, Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 2004. Flat bottom style with slightly turned heads. Very good and original.

(800 - 1,200) 614. Goldeneye drake from Crisfield, Maryland, 1st quarter 20th century. Weathered and worn; old repaint; numerous cracks and splits.

(500 - 700) 615. Canvasback hen, Robert McGaw, Havre de Grace, Maryland. Strong original paint; very little wear; fairly large crack in the underside.

(900 - 1,200)

Related Items

617

616

618

619

620

616. Relief carved rooster on directional. On 18.5” x 24” pine board. Minor damage to edges; some paint loss.

(300 - 400)

618.

27” tall lighthouse bird house, Frank Finney, Capeville, Virginia. ID’ed as SANKAYT lighthouse. Signed. Crack in one side; otherwise very good and original. (400 - 600)

617. Painting of flying mallards in marsh, George Rienbold. Signed. On turned wooden platter, approximately 16” in diameter. Back of platter is marked handmade by Robert Hogg, 1945. Platter is protected by an old coat of varnish; not very distractive shrinkage on front.

(350 - 550)

619. Carved wooden witch whirligig with tin hat brim. Approximately 29” tall. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good.

(400 - 600) 620. Pair of wooden carved race horses with jockeys. Each approximately 24” long. Both are signed “P. Schifferl”. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good.

(400 - 600)

227

621

623

625 621. Lot of 25 books. Including “Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois,” 1st edition. “Decoy Collectors Guide,” “New England Decoys,” “Chesapeake Bay Decoys,” “Waterfowl Decoys of Michigan,” “Factory Decoys,” Delph, “Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway,” and a book on duck shooting by Halbuner.

(300 - 400) 622. Two carvings by Charles Crookes, Point Place, Ohio, 1923 - 1977. One is a hunter with gun and goose decoys shooting from a pit line. The other a hunter with gun holding a snow goose, and it is titled, “First Goose of the Seas on.”

(300 - 500) 623. Full size carved wooden great horned owl, Mike Borrett, Madison, Wisconsin. Branded under stand.

Flapping wings. Original and good.

(400 - 600) 228

622

624

626 624. Cast metal full size wood duck on cast log, signed Killen, 1984. 53/300. Very good and original. (300 - 400) 625. Two carvings of hunters in layout boats, Charles Crookes, Point Place, Ohio, 1923 - 1977. Each carving is signed by Crookes on underside. Each depicts hunter in a layout boat. Larger boat contains six miniature canvasbacks.

(300 - 400) 626. Cast iron crow shooting gallery target, 1st quarter 20th century. Approximately 16” long. Worn old paint; pitted surface.

(200 - 300)

Virginia 627. Rare balsa body widgeon drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Two piece body construction. Ice dip behind cedar head. Original scratch feather painting protected by an old coat of varnish; a few small dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired from M. Dimling in 1982.

(2,500 - 3,500)

627 628. Bluebill drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. In rare turned head pose. Original paint on much of the decoy; most of the black area has been repainted; small dents and hairline cracks; tail chip repair.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Guy Windsor in 1965.

(2,500 - 3,500)

628

629.

Brant, Doug Jester, Chincoteague, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; several “in the making’ filled cracks in the back; on two of these, some of the paint has flaked off showing the filler below.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Formerly in the collection of Roy Bull, acquired at the 1983 Bourne decoy auction.

(2,500 - 3,500)

629

629 Detail

229

630. Hollow carved brant, Dave Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia. A mixture of worn original paint and old in use repaint; small cracks and dents.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1973.

(2,000 - 3,000)

630

631. Canvasback drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1930s. Flat bottom style with fluted tail. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; fairly large shot scar on top of bill; cracks in neck.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1972.

(2,000 - 3,000)

631

632. Black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Round body style with ice dip behind head.

Fluted tail. Stamped “ETC 44” in weight. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; small chip missing from tip of tail.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Windsor White in 1969.

(2,000 - 3,000)

632 633. Balsa body black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1930s. Well executed scratch loop feather painting. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents in balsa; some wear to balsa on edges of tail.

633

230

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

Acquired from Bill Purnell in 1982.

Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 39.

(2,000 - 3,000)

634

635

636

637

638

639

640

641

642

634. Canvasback drake, Oscar Carroll, Back Bay, Virginia. Used at Ragged Island. Old in use repaint; small dents and shot marks.

(500 - 800) 635. Redhead drake, Oscar Carroll, Back Bay, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Old repaint; hit by shot; two defects in wood in back; approximately 5” x 1 1/2” burned area in lower side.

Literature: “Gunnin’ Birds,” Kroghie Andresen, p. 20.

(400 - 600)

636. Swimming brant, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia, 3rd quarter 20th century. Large “C” carved in underside. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection.

(400 - 600)

637. Goldeneye hen attributed to John Haff, Smith Island, Virginia. Serifed “JH” carved in the underside. Also there is an “S” and “Wareton” brand. Old in use repaint; bill has been shortened; crack through neck.

(400 - 600) 638. Coot, Galla Brothers, Back Bay, Virginia, circa 1930s. Made from a juniper fence post. Peg head with cloth bill. Original paint with minor wear; shot scar on tail; worn area on one edge of tail; small cracks.

(350 - 550)

639. Solid body style black duck, similar to work of Joe King, Manahawkin, New Jersey. Large “CM” carved in the underside. Inset rectangular weight. ___ Elliot’s old tags on underside indicate the decoy was purchased from a Mrs. Whealton, Cape Charles, Virginia. From her husband’s hunting rig used in the early 1930s. Old in use repaint; repair to a chip at one side of the neck base; small dents and shot marks; minor roughness to edges of tail.

(350 - 450) 640. Black duck, Captain Ike Phillips, Wachapreague, Virginia. Raised neck seat. Old in use repaint; cracks in one side and through neck base; head appears to have been reset a long time ago.

(350 - 450) 641. Black duck, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia. Hollow carved with tack eyes. Old in use repaint; crack through neck.

(350 - 450) 642.

Goldeneye drake, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow carved. Worn old paint with paint restoration on some of the black areas; bill has been trimmed a little; small shot marks; long raised knot in one side.

Provenance: Sam Dyke collection. Acquired in 1969.

(350 - 550)

End of Session Two 231

Index of Carvers Aiken, William..........................................................................311 Allen, Charles.............................................................................84 Allen, Fred.............................................................................139A Andrews, Robert................................................................507,511 Anger, Ken................................................................................291 Audubon, JJ..............................................................................498 Backman, Edwin.......................................................................294 Baldwin, Willard.........................................................................72 Bamford, William.....................................................................315 Barber, Joel........................................................................490,492 Barco, Bailey.............................................................................229 Barnard, Charles Nelson...........................................................442 Barnes, Hampton.......................................................................400 Barnes, Sam................................................................................45 Barrett, Jake...........................................................................599B Beary, Tom................................................................................247 Birch, Charles........................................124,410,543,549,641,642 Birch, Reggie.......................................................282,451,455,464 Birdsall, Charles.....................................................................599A Black, Charles........................................................................ 599E Borkowski, Len......................................................................600A Borrett, Borett...........................................................................623 Boyd, George................................................................61,424,428 Boyd, Taylor.........................................................................37,437 Brewer, Josh..............................................................................452 Brothers, Galla..........................................................................638 Broussard, Andre.........................................................290,295,296 Brunet, Jett..................................................................143,146,149 Brunet, Jude.......................................................................148,554 Brunet, Tan..................................................................144,145,147 Burgess, Ned...............................................................210,222,223 Burk, Al.....................................................................................556 Burke, Edgar...............................................................................94 Burr, Elisha...............................................................................193 Carney, Armand........................................................................405 Carroll, Oscar.....................................................................634,635 Chesser, Grayson........................................................273,459,636 Clark, Charles..........................................................20,21,510,520 Clark, Roland............................................................................503 Cobb, Albert..............................................................................512 Cobb, Elkanah....................................................................114,115 Cobb, Jr, Nathan.....................................108,109,509,542,544,550 Conklin, Hurley..................................................................183,590 Conklin, Roy.............................................................................304 Coombs, Frank............................................................298,300,307 Couvillion, Skip........................................................................276 Crandall, Horace.........................................................................28 Cranmer, Bill.............................................................................584 Crookes, Charles................................................................622,625 Crowell, Elmer.......................60,66-70,180,192,248-251,396-399 Currier, Jim........................................................................154,155 Daisey, Cigar......................................................................... 49-57 Davis, Henry.............................................................................357 Davis, John Waterfield..............................................................604

Dawson, John.........................................................................599G DeMott, Daniel.........................................................................187 Denny, Sam...............................................................................308 Dilley, John...............................................................................189 Dodge Decoy Factory ......................................................235,239 Doughty, Eli..............................................................................407 Downes, Hanson.......................................................................415 Downes, John Henry..........................................................120,122 Dye, Ben.........................................................58,317,335,339,438 Dye, Joe.......................................................................................39 Edwards, Jr., Charles.................................................................221 Elliston, Robert.........................................................................142 English, Dan...................................................................... 87,600E English, Jack...............................................................................81 English, John.........................................................80,85,600,600D Eppel, Jack.............................................................................139D Evans, John...............................................................................575 Evans, Stanley.............................................................................33 Feasal, Bill................................................................................526 Finney, Frank..................................................15,285,289,460,618 Fitzpatrick, Tom.....................................................................600C Fleckenstein, Henry..................................................................371 Gelston, Thomas.......................................................................184 Gibian, William.........................................................................275 Gibson, Paul..............................................................................321 Glenn, John.................................................................................48 Graham, John.......................................................319,332,338,358 Grant, Stanley...........................................................................587 Grauch, Mel..............................................................................582 Haff, John.............................................................................27,637 Hagerbaumer, David...................................................................91 Hammel, Bill..........................................................................599D Hancock, Miles...........................................................121,125,418 Harlander, William......................................................................88 Harris, Ken.........................................................................310,313 Hart, Charles.............................................................................425 Hawthorne, Davison..........................................................271,527 Hayman, Joe..............................................................................226 Hays Decoy Factory ................................................................234 Haywood, Mannie.....................................................................227 Heath, Cyril...............................................................................302 Heisler, Jess............................................................................599H Herter’s Decoy Factory ...........................................................236 Heverin, Will..........................................................................41,46 Hiltz, Orin.................................................................................292 Holly, James.........................................................................36,441 Holly, Jim..................................................................................336 Holly, John........................................................42,43,333,334,605 Holt, Jack and Bette..................................................................391 Horner, Rowley.........................................................................588 Houlten, Jerry............................................................................562 Hudson, Delbert........................................................................557 Hudson, Ira.............. 112,113,116,117,252-261,264,-267,408,409, 411,419-421,517,547,627,628,631-633

Hunt, Lynn Bouge.......................................................................95 Irving, Lawrence.......................................................................198 James Manes Company ...........................................................579 Janson, Richard...........................................................................30 Jester, Charles...............................................118,123,126,545,546 Jester, Doug....................................... 65,110,111,262,263,393,629 Johnson, Lloyd...................................................................388,583 Joiner, Charlie......................................... 96-107,606-609,611,613 Kellum, Frank...........................................................................489 King, AJ......................................................................................59 King, Joe...................................................................................591 Laing, Albert...............................................................................79 Lashbrook, Virgil......................................................................138 Lawson, Oliver..........................................................................569 Lefevbre, Clovis.................................................................299,369 Leward, Humphrey...................................................................211 Litzenberger, Robert..........................................................326,360 Madera, Clark....................................................................589,599 Mason Decoy Factory ..............139E,139F,230-233,374,466-479 Massulli, Sal..............................................................................572 McAnney, John.........................................................................181 McCarthy Family, ............................................................175,176 McGaw, Robert.......................................32,35,38,62,159,362,615 McLoughlin, John...........................................................404,600B McNair, Mark..................................................... 9-13,274,287,288 Mill, Wilbur Roy.......................................................................297 Mitchell, Madison.................. 156,160-198,322,323,325,328,329, 359,445,446,600G Mittlestadt, Robert....................................................................306 Moak, Gus.................................................................................141 Morgan, Joseph...........................................................................82 Morse, Robert...........................................................................224 Mueller, Keith............... 16-19,150,151,270,272,386,453,454,552 Nelson, Jim Brinks....................................................................324 Noonan, AC..............................................................................440 Nottingham, Luther Lee............................................................519 O’Neal, Wallace........................................................................225 O’Neil, George Washington......................................................213 Patterson, Chauncey..................................................................316 Peterson, Pete............................................... 457,458,461-463,465 Phillips, Ed...........................................................................40,443 Phillips, Ike...............................................................................640 Pierce, Jim.................................................................................361 Pope, A......................................................................................501 Quillen, Richard........................................................................402 Quinn, William............................................................................86 Reardon, J.L................................................................................92 Reed, Corbin......................................................................394,395 Reinbold, George......................................................................617 Reynolds, Chauncey............................................................44,337 Roetig, George............................................................................93 Rogers, Gus...............................................................................303 Rue, Ben....................................................................................119 Sachi, Nick............................................................................. 600F

Safford, Charles........................................................................423 Saunders, Ellie..........................................................................217 Schmidt, Ben......................................................... 64,127-132,137 Schmiedlin, Jim..................................................169-174,447-450 Schroeder, Tom..................................................................195,553 Seebt, Warren.................................................................... 243-246 Sharp, John................................................................................387 Shaw, William...........................................................................133 Shourds, Harry M......................................................................586 Shourds, Harry V...........................................177,178,186,580,598 Shourds, III, Harry V.................................................................364 Sidebotham, Frank................................................................. 599F Smith, Abrem............................................................................491 Smoker, Rich.............................................................................286 Soule, George............................................................................433 Sprankle, Jim.............................................................................153 Stanley, James...........................................................................305 Sterling, Lloyd...................................................................439,444 Sterling Family ................................................................318,610 Strunk, George..........197,277-281,283,184,456,523-525,528,531 Sutton, Sean..............................................................................401 Taggart, RY.................................................................................63 Terry, Albert..............................................................................495 Thornes, Ira........................................................................567,568 Tillet, Cliff................................................................................228 Truex, Rhodes....................................................................581,585 Tyler, Lloyd.....................................................47,157,158,331,555 Valley, Mike.......................................................................564,566 Van Zandt, Cliff.....................................................................599C Verity, Obediah.........................................................................179 Victor Animal Trap Company .................................................240 Vizier, Jimmie...........................................................................406 Walker, Charles.........................................................................140 Ward, John................................................................................530 Ward, Torrey...............................................................................14 Ward Brothers ..... 1-8,376-385,389,392,529,532-,541,600H-603 Watson, Dave................................. 22,268,269,412-4414,422,630 Wells, Charles R..........................................................................76 Wells, Gene...............................................................................493 Wheaton, Frank.........................................................................514 Wheeler, Chauncey...................................................................301 Wheeler, Shang.................................................................71,77,78 Whittington, Hector...........................................................134,135 Wildfowler Decoy Factory ..................237,238,241,242,373,375, 592,594-597 Wilson, Charles.........................................................................612 Wilson, Gus..............................................................74,75,436,558 Wirtz, Tex..................................................................................152 Wooster, Joe..............................................................................551 Worrilow, Mary.........................................................................571 Wright, Alvirah.........................................................................212 Wright, Preston.........................................................................427

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 decoys@guyetteanddeeter.com Jon Deeter 7980 Darbys Run • Chagrin Falls OH 44023 (440) 610-1768 • (440) 543-1466 fax jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com For more information, visit our website: www.guyetteanddeeter.com

We are pleased to announce that Robert J. Koenke has accepted the position of Guyette & Deeter, Inc.’s Sporting and Wildlife Art Expert. We are confident that he will be an excellent fit within our organization.

Mr. Koenke has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Art Advisory Board of the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland since 1985 and served on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, South Carolina. He has also consulted on numerous wildlife art shows across the United States. He was a member of the Art Advisory Board for the Arts in the Park program in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and judged the competition twice. He was appointed in the National Art Advisory Board for Ducks Unlimited in 1989, and he has served on the Board of Advisors for the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis since 1989 and was instrumental in the museum’s Wildlife Art in America Exhibition in 1994. He was named chairman of the Art Advisory Board in 1995 and still serves on the museum’s Advisory Board.

In 1990, Mr. Koenke received the Wildlife Art industry “Person of the Year” award at the Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show in Tacoma, Washington. This award, the first of its kind, was presented to Koenke for “major contribution to the wildlife art industry.” He was also recognized for “Outstanding Service and leadership by the California Artists Association in 2002. The Fallbrooks Museum awarded Mr. Koenke their “Lifetime Achievement Award for the Arts” in 2003.

His contribution and major impact on the Waterfowl Festival was recognized at its silver anniversary festival in 1995 when Mr. Koenke was named to the Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame. In 1997, Mr. Koenke was honored as a recipient of the Frazier Hancock Award for excellence in a private ceremony in Ohio.

In 2005, Mr. Koenke moved to Maryland and started a new business, Robert J. Koenke & Associates, specializing in art and marketing consultation, fine art appraisals, teaching, and publishing. He received his Fine Arts in Appraisal degree from Pratt Institute in New York in 2007 and is a candidate member of the American Society of Appraisers. He holds a BA degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and currently resides and has offices on the eastern shore of Maryland.

Mr. Koenke has been appraising fine art for over 30 years. His specialty is animal, sporting, and wildlife art with a subspecialty in early European and American art. He has completed appraisals for private collections, museums, exhibitions, attorneys in five states and fine art dealers.

45th Annual

Waterfowl Festival

®

November 13, 14, 15, 2015 in Easton, Maryland

The Ultimate Destination for the Sophisticated Sportsman!

Þremiere Night Þarty

Art. Cocktails. Cuisine. Conservation.

Thursday, November 12, 4:30–9 p.m.

Enjoy cocktails and Eastern Shore favorites while touring five downtown art galleries in advance of the weekend crowds! Enjoy the rest of the Festival Weekend as a VIP! Tickets and VIP packages at waterfowlfestival.org/premierenight

• Antique and Modern Decoys • Wildlife and Nature Art: Carvings, Paintings, Sculpture and Photography • Be sure to visit the Buy, Sell, Swap and Waterfowling Artifacts Exhibits at Easton High School!

VIP packages, general admission tickets and MORE at waterfowlfestival.org.

You’ve valuable You’vebuilt builtaacollection collection of of unique, unique, valuable decoys and items.

Have decoys andhistorical historical waterfowling waterfowling items.

Have you considered what will happen when you are you considered what will happen when you are no no longer adding the collection? longer adding to thetocollection?

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. and Guyette & Deeter, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. has a team of gift planning Inc. have teamed to provide you with gift planning professionals professionalsready readytotoreview reviewestate estate planning planning options that may benefit not only but options that may benefit not onlyyour your family, family, but help you leave help you leavea alegacy legacyofofconservation. conservation.

They offerassistance assistancetotoavoid avoidcapital capital gains, gains, They offer increase income, reduce potential estate increase income, reduce potential estate taxes taxes and and still leave a legacy of conservation. still leave a legacy of conservation.

For more information contact: Jonathan Rich Managing Director Gift Planning 901-758-3763 office jrich@ducks.org Jon Deeter 440-610-1768 jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com

JDJ

JDJ

5 1

S T

N O R T H

A M E R I C A N

Vintage Decoy & Sporting Collectibles Show Don’t miss the largest gathering of Sporting Collectibles enthusiasts in North America.

The must attend show for anyone interested in America’s hunting and fishing past and the great folk art that grew from it.

Room-to-Room Trading.

Guyette and Deeter Auction.

Tabled Dealer Show. Free Appraisals.

Collector Seminars and Displays.

April 19-23, 2016 Pheasant Run Resort St. Charles, IL Open to the public

Tuesday, April 19 All Day – Room-to-room trading

Wednesday, April 20 All Day – Room-to-room trading 6pm – Auction Preview Reception

Thursday, April 21 All Day – Room-to-room trading 9am – Minnesota Decoy Seminar 9:30am - 1pm – Show Registration in Library 11am – Guyette & Deeter Auction Day 1 4pm – Evans Collectors Meeting 6pm – Call Makers Auction & Party

Vintage Minnesota Decoy Display

P R E S E RV I N G T H I S O R I G I N A L A M E R I C A N F O L K A RT H I STO RY S I N C E 1 9 6 6

Friday, April 22

9am – Call Makers Meeting & Contest Judging 8:30am – Member “Town Hall” Meeting 10am – Guyette & Deeter Auction Day 2 2pm to 7pm – Table Event in Mega Center Vintage Minnesota Decoy Display Vintage Minnesota Fish Display Shell Box Display Featured Carver Exhibit Contemporary Carver Demonstrations/Display Free Identification and Appraisals

Saturday, April 23

9am - 2pm – Table Event in Mega Center Friday Displays/Demonstrations / Appraisals Continue

Over 30,000 items for sale

To book rooms at Pheasant Run call

Theresa Stafford, 630-524-5038 For information on daily events, and reserving selling tables go to

midwestdecoy.org or call 586-530-6586

Exceptional pair of decorative greenwing teal by the Ward Brothers, Crisfield, Maryland.

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition Decoy Exhibit and Auction Auction by Guyette & Deeter Saturday, February 13 | 12-5 p.m. | Charleston Marriott Hotel

Auction Previews Friday, February 12, 3-5 p.m. | Saturday, February 13, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Charleston Marriott Hotel

Limited Decoy Exhibitor Space Available | VIP Packages Available visit www.sewe.com for details

Power and Grace, Kyle Sims

Setting Them Up, Peggy Watkins

Available at auction 2/11/16

Available, Charleston Place Ballroom, SEWE 2016

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

Ira Hudson Duck Family

WARDMUSEUM.ORG

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

February, 2016 Ramada Bloomington Minneapolis Airport Mall 2300 East American Boulevard Bloomington, MN 55425-1228 (494 at 24th) • 952-854-3411 • 952-854-1183 (Fax)

Best Bird Contest – Green-winged Teal

For information contact:

John Southworth (651) 455-7114 Larry Thomforde (507) 732-7074

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

5 Categories! Decorative Decoys, Antique Factory Decoys, Modern Working Decoys, Antique Carved Decoys & Youth • Collectors Choice Display

Sponsored By:

Minnesota Display

Minnesota Green-winged Teal

Celebrating over 50 Years Of Collecting Decoys • WED. – THURS. •

FEB. 3 & 4, 2016 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Hotel room-to-room trading Open to the Public

• FRIDAY •

• SATURDAY •

oy Dec on t 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. Auc iM. 7 P. 7 p.m. Decoy Auction

FEB. 5, 2016

(11:00 a.m. Exhibitor Setup) $15.00 Membership Fee – Includes Family Admission SPONSORED BY MINNESOTA DECOY COLLECTORS ASSN. $20.00 Early Bird + membership gets you in at 11:00 a.m.

FEB. 6, 2016 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Open to the Public $2.00 Donation 18 yrs. & older Best Bird Contest

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

To Order Copies Of

Wildfowl Decoys of California Vintage Carving Traditions of the Golden State Send a check for $90 + $7 Sales Tax, Plus Shipping & Handling $5 USA or $10 Canada (Total: $102 USA or $107 Canada) made out to Triple-D Book Publishing C/O: Michael R. Miller 1022 West Osprey Heights Drive Spokane, Washington 99224 OR To purchase using a credit card or PayPal log on to Westcoast-decoys.com Any questions please e-mail californiadecoys@gmail.com (Note: edition limited to only one thousand copies)

CA Book Ads.indd 668

10/5/2015 9:48:35 AM

DECOYS TO DECORATIVES THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICA’S ORIGINAL ART FORM

Flushing Ruffed Grouse (MC. #5091) by John Scheeler

Susan Schadt, founder of Wild Abundance Publishing, launches Susan Schadt Press, an artisan publishing house, with the inaugural release, Decoys to Decoratives: The Development of America’s Original Art Form. The hardcover, limited first edition will be released in the 2016spring of 2016.

N

ative Americans carved working decoys thousands of years ago. Decoys to Decoratives: The Development of America’s Original Art Form chronicles the evolution of the art form with stunning photography and artists’ stories. Capturing a legacy, from working decoys to today’s carvings as objects of art destined for collectors and museums, the hardcover two volume collectible edition will be presented in a luxurious linen slip case.  A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNAL FEATURING THE MILLER COLLECTION  SHOWCASING THE WORKS OF OVER 50 ARTISTS  HUNDREDS OF BIRD CARVING PHOTOGRAPHS  INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED CARVERS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: WWW.THEMILLERCOLLECTION.COM | SUSAN.SCHADT@SSCHADTPRESS.COM

CONDITIONS OF SALE ‑- PLEASE READ 1.

GUARANTEE ‑ We have made a consistent effort in correctly cataloging and describing all items to be sold. The decoy catalog descriptions are guaranteed for authenticity and condition. All other items sold “AS IS.” 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 in 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 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 sales records shall be conclusive as to whom 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 - $2000 $1000 to $10,000 - $100 $20,000 to $100,000 - $1000 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 at 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.

RESERVES ‑ A very small percentage of the decoys in this auction carry reserves. A reserve is a confidential minimum price established between the auctioneer and the consignor. The reserve will not exceed the low estimate printed in the catalog, and is usually much less. Reserves are executed by the bookkeeper on behalf of the consignor.

8.

PAYMENT FOR PURCHASES MAY BE MADE WITH VISA , MASTERCARD, CASH OR CHECK. 9.

BUYERS PREMIUM - The buyer’s premium, assessed on each selling lot, is 15% 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 18% up to and including $1,000,000, plus 13% on any amount in excess of $1,000,000.

10. 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 out of Maryland.

11.

ACCEPTANCE OF CONDITIONS ‑ Bidding on any articles in this catalog indicates your acceptance of all the above items.

12. 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.

13. WITHDRAWAL ‑ We reserve the right to withdraw any property before the sale and shall have no liability whatsoever for such withdrawal.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. All calls are sold “As Is”.

THE OFFICE WILL NOT BE OPEN UNTIL WEDNESDAY AFTER THE AUCTION.

ABSENTEE AND PHONE 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 of 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 15% 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 the day of the auction 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 served 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 10% 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 served 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

POBox Box1170 1170 PO St. Michaels, MD 21663 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-745-0485 410-745-0485 Fax410-745-0487 410-745-0487 Fax 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.

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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.

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Signature A PREMIUM OF 15% WILL BE APPLIED TO ALL ITEMS SOLD, TO BE 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

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G u y e t t e & De e te r , Inc .

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