Guyette & Deeter, Inc. North American Decoys At Auction Pheasant Run Resort 4051 East Main Street St. Charles, Illinois 630-584-6300 Held in conjunction with the Midwest Decoy Collectors Association Show Wednesday, April 22, 2015 Preview 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Join us for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres Thursday, April 23, 2015 Preview 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM Auction 11:00 AM Friday, April 24, 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 | [email protected] | 410-745-0485 Jon Deeter | [email protected] | 440-543-1416 Important Notices: Guyette & Deeter, Inc. ■ 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 [email protected] or Jon Deeter 440.543.1416 [email protected]. 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 weather vanes unless specified in catalog. Plexiglass cases are not included with shotgun shell boxes. ■ Sales Tax - There is an 8% sales tax on purchases over $200 unless you have a Sales and Use Tax License* (from any state) or have your purchases shipped outside of Illinois. If you are exempt, please have a copy of your certificate with you. You will be required to sign an Illinois sales and Use affidavit for us to keep on file. ■ Reserve a room at a discounted rate of $119 by calling the Pheasant Run Resort at 800-474-3272 and mention the Guyette & Deeter room block. ■ 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 July 28 & 29, 2015 Sheraton Harborside Hotel Portsmouth, New Hampshire Consignments accepted until June 8, or until full 50 Dealer buy, Sell, swap. *NO SALES TAX Dale & Gary Guyette PO Box 1170 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Tel: 410-745-0485 Fax: 410-745-0487 [email protected] Jon & Leigh Ann Deeter 7980 Darbys Run Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Tel: 440-543-1416 Cell: 440-610-1768 Fax: 440-543-5405 [email protected] Zac Cote Online auction manager & Photography Freeport, Maine Tel: 410.253.8616 Tel: 207.869.6004 [email protected] Mike Stevenson Graphic Designer & Website Developer St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410.745.0485 [email protected] Ed Kenney Merchandise Manager & Shipping St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410.745.0485 [email protected] Lynda Brooks November 11 & 12, 2015 Talbot County Community Center Easton, Maryland In Conjunction with the Easton Waterfowl Festival Featuring the collection of Sam Dyke 50 Dealer buy, Sell, swap. To consign, Contact: Gary Guyette | [email protected] | 410-745-0485 Jon Deeter | [email protected] | 440-543-1416 Office Manager St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410.745.0485 [email protected] Jane O’Malley Monetti Bookkeeper St. Michaels, Maryland Tel: 410.745.0485 [email protected] Featuring Decoys From The Collections Of: Jack Milne Tom O’Key Hamilton Shippee Peter Bartlett Harry Seitz Arizona State University Steve Powell hubert Nerwin Don Clark Sam Dyke Doug & Ellen Miller Vermont Folklife Museum Harry Seitz Harry Seitz, Jr. and Barney Crandell, both from Michigan, were enthusiastic waterfowl hunters, decoy collectors and historians who began collecting decoys in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, Harry and Barney acquired several hundred decoys by various makers from the St. Clair Flats Shooting Company (Canada Club). Of great importance was the introduction of “The Flats Decoys,” including Warin, Ward, Wells, Chambers and Reeves, over the next few years to collectors across North America. Harry J. Seitz, Jr. Harry designated some of these decoys as collection decoys that would form the core of his great “Flats collection.” Tom O’Key Always an avid duck hunter, Tom’s first collectible decoy was a $6.00 Animal Trap mallard drake that his wife, Gayle, bought him from an antiques store “just for fun.” But the real fun didn’t start until almost 20 years later when they attended the MDCA show at the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook, Illinois, and Tom fell under the spell of carved wooden birds. They left that day with a Joe Anderlik blue wing teal and a strong desire to know more about this unique American folk art. Twenty years after that, the entire lower level of their home was devoted to their collection. Tom spent as much of his free time as possible learning about decoys and their makers, reading books, talking to collectors, attending shows and auctions around the country. He brought the same energy and enthusiasm to his hobby as he had to learning about computers and “data processing,” the other area of his life in which he was largely self-taught. Just as he rose to be Vice President of Computer Operations for United Air Lines, so he eventually became extremely proficient at identifying birds and determining their authenticity and condition. A treasure hunter at heart, Tom never tired of searching for the next great bird, and had great fun doing it. He served on the MDCA Board of Directors as Treasurer for many years, and always regarded the annual show at Pheasant Run as one of the highlights of his year. He’ll be remembered for his dedication to the organization, as well as for the sheer joy he felt and shared when he was with his fellow collectors and their birds. If Tom had had the chance to say goodbye, he would have added his sincere thanks to MDCA and all the collectors for the gifts of good times and wonderful people that decoy collecting brought into his life. Seitz and Crandell held several exhibits in 1975 including Chicago, Michigan and finally in Easton, Maryland in November where Harry Seitz displayed these same important Flats decoys that are being offered in this sale. Tom O’Key Marjorie “Midge” Seitz Sam Dyke Sam Dyke was the chairman of the board of directors of the Ward Foundation when he passed, as well as chair of the Curatorial Committee at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Dyke served the Foundation and Museum for over 40 years, and he was instrumental in helping the Museum to grow from humble beginnings to one of the premier wildfowl art institutions in the world. He played an important role in nearly all the exhibits featured at the Ward Museum and was active in the Museum’s daily curatorial operations – from exhibit conception and conservation, to hanging objects in the galleries. Most of Sam’s decoy collection will be sold in the Guyette & Deeter, Inc. November 2015 auction. Sam Dyke Andy Nyboer Andy Nyboer loved hunting pigeons and crows around his neighborhood in Rockford, IL. Being surrounded by large farms, his neighbors often called him to “thin out” those “pesky grain-eating” pigeons and crows, which gave Andy a good excuse to use his homemade silhouette pigeon and crow decoys. In the early 1960s, while Andy was hunting at a nearby farm, the owner came out of his barn with several old gunny sacks which were full of unwanted decoys. Needing to clean out his barn of clutter, Andy’s farmer friend said, “Just toss these away if you have no use for them and don’t want them.” Andy thought these looked a lot better than his shot-up, cut-out silhouette crow decoys, so the sacks found their way to Andy’s barn. As the weeks and years went by, these old sacks just got lost in a corner of his barn. Some time later, after dust and cobwebs covered the gunny sacks, Andy was de-cluttering and cleaning his own barn when he rediscovered the old sacks. He examined them, and the crow decoys were still there. Checking them over, he became intrigued. Having been a long time collector of antiques, Andy began to hunt for information regarding these decoys. His wife, Marion, had a cousin living in Princeton, IL who actually collected decoys. They soon got together and Andy was thrilled to learn that these crows were carved by Charles Perdew. Andy’s children have fond memories of these historically significant Perdew decoys and the amazing story of how they came into their family’s possession. To think, these priceless Perdew crows were almost thrown away! Artfact is Now Invaluable Online Bidding Through Invaluable Bidding through Invaluable.com features real time competitive bidding straight from the auction. Session One Thursday, April 23, 2015 11:00 AM Lots 1 - 413 To bid using Invaluable: • Go to the Guyette & Deeter website and click on the Invaluable link below upcoming auctions. • Once on Invaluable’s website, click on the Create Account button on the top right navigation bar. It’s free and only takes a few minutes. • Create your own username and password, along with your email address so Invaluable can send you important information. • Input your information. On the following page, Invaluable will ask you for your interests. • Now that you are a member of Invaluable, not only can you browse and bid on our auctions, but you have access to all of Invaluable’s other auctions. *Winning bids will be subject to a 5% Invaluable fee Guyette & Deeter Online Auctions We e k ly O n l i n e Au c t i o n s En d i n g E ve r y T h u r s d ay N i g h t Gua ran te e d de s cri pti o n s , m ul ti pl e ph o tos, quick s h i ppi n g , g re at de al s 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 | [email protected] | PO Box 159, Freeport, Maine 04032 | www.decoysforsale.com Session Two Friday, April 24, 2015 10:00 AM Lots 414 - 662 Ontario Miniatures Illinois River Contemporary New England Mason Decoy Factory Fish Ontario Ben Schmidt Shorebirds Delaware River Paintings Elmer Crowell Virginia & N. Carolina Pacific Coast Illinois River Items of Interest New York Factory Fish Canada Calls Michigan & Wisconsin Louisiana Contemporary Illinois River Ontario 1-16 17-26 27-46 47-62 63-69 70-84 84A-97 98-112 113-133 134-141 142-149 150-154 155-159 160-171 172-178 179-192 193-209 210-233 234-247 248-264 265-273 274-308 309-338 339-349 350-370 371-385 386-413 Decoratives Jim Schmiedlin Illinois River Maryland Ontario Pigeons Mason Decoy Factory Shorebirds Midwest Pigeons Illinois River NJ & Delaware River Ontario New England Decoratives & Miniatures Miscellaneous 414-439 440-445 446-461 462-473 474-488 489-500 501-522 523-538 539-544 545-560 561-576 577-595 596-620 621-629 630-648 649-662 Please read conditions of sale in the back of catalog SESSION ONE Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 11:00 am Ontario 1. Rigmate pair of redheads, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario. Early hollow style with bottom boards. “J.T.N.” brand in underside, for John T. Nichols. Thin original paint; drake has some paint loss at bottom board on one side; small crack near neck seat; hen has paint loss on back where it has been rubbed away; a few small areas of paint loss at neck seat and head. Provenance: Seitz collection. (3,000 - 5,000) 1 2 3 5 2. Widgeon drake, Charles Reeves, Long Point, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. “C.D.” is carved in the underside. Very thin original paint; a few shot marks including two scars on top of body and one side of bill; paint is worn evenly on body; green patch on head behind eyes has some paint loss, small rough area on one side of bill. Literature: “St. Clair to St. Lawrence,” Barney Crandall, p. 184, exact decoy. (3,000 - 4,000) 3. Redhead drake, John Avis, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Branded “HD” for Harry Dynes of Ashbirdge Bay. Oversize, hollow body with bottom board. Raised neck seat and paint combing on body. Strong original paint; some paint loss at bill; seam separation at bottom board; a few rubs and dents, otherwise very good and original. (1,500 - 2,000) 4. 4 8 Early hooded merganser hen by Samuel Rufus Hutchings (1894-1995), Elgin, Ontario Canada, 1st quarter 20th century. Original weight. A small bodied, pocket sized decoy modeled with the same tail and wing carving as Hutchings’ famous checkered examples. A similar example is in the Canadian National Museum in Ottawa. Hutchings only made a small limited number of decoys for his own use. Thick working repaint; bill has been broken off, reset, and restored; a few areas of inpainting on speculums. Literature: “Great Lakes Decoy Interpretations,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 45, exact decoy. (2,000 - 3,000) 6 5. Very rare bluebill hen, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Branded “F.T.M.” on underside for Fred T Murphy. A member of St. Clair Flats Shooting Company 1922 - 1949. Strong original paint with feathering on sides and tail; two small shot marks in head; hairline crack at neck seat; inch long dent near wing patch; small areas of flaking and wear on both head and body where bare wood is exposed. (5,000 - 8,000) 6. Extremely rare bluebill drake, from the Markham Rig, Markham, Ontario. Very hollow with thin bottom board. Turned head and slightly exaggerated bill. Original paint protected by an old coat of varnish, as most of the Markham decoys were; bill has two coats of paint; believed to have been done at the time the decoy was made; a few small chips to the body. (5,000 - 7,000) 9 At the turn of the century, Toronto’s proximity to Lake Ontario and other important water- 7. ways insured it had a wealth of talented craftsman, especially boat builders. Many subsidized their income by building duck and goose decoys when the opportunity arose. While it is not yet known who the creator of this incredible, soft water teal and its rigmate, lot 106, Exceptional hollow carved greenwing teal hen from Ontario. Relief wing carving, notched tail, and very slightly turned head. Fine feather paint detail. Rigmate to lot 106 in this auction. Original paint that has darkened with age; a few small rubs; professional bill chip repair by Russ Allen. (8,000 - 12,000) was, we know one thing for sure. It is one of the most finely constructed, carved and painted teal we have seen from the Toronto area. Both are incredibly light, at only 5.6 ounces each. 7 Detail 7 10 11 8 9 10 11 12 13 8. Lowhead black duck, David Ward, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Hollow with bottom board and branded “F.T.M.” in underside, for Fred T. Murphy. Very old working repaint, with paint worn off bill and other areas on body and head; structurally good. Provenance: Seitz collection. 9. Lowhead black duck, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow with bottom board. Branded “Steep” and “J.A. McDougall”. Both members at St. Clair Flats Shooting Company. Worn old paint which appears to be mostly original; areas on bill and back of head have been worn to exposed bare wood; slight roughness to edge of bill. (800 - 1,200) Hollow carved bluebill hen, Morris Boat Works, Toronto, Ontario. Appealing in use repaint; structurally good. (650 - 950) 11. Lowhead black duck, George Warin, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. “HTM” painted on under- 12 side. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; hit by shot; reglued crack in bill; slight roughness to tip of tail; small hole drilled in the underside. (1,200 - 1,500) 12. (500 - 800) 10. 14 Redhead hen, John R. Wells, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Hollow with bottom board. Branded “CKR” in underside. Slightly high head. Traces of feather painting around breast and tail is original but worn; neck crack repair; numerous dents; and several shot marks; rough areas around bottom edge of tail, bill, and top of head. Provenance: Seitz collection. 13. Black duck, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow carved with bottom board. Scratch painting on earlier style head. Several shot marks on one side of body and face; much of paint appears to be original; an old coat of black wash appears to have been cleaned off body and head. Provenance: Seitz collection. (800 - 1,000) (800 - 1,200) 15 14. Important redhead drake, George Warin, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Numerous brands on underside, including, “G&J Warin Builders Toronto,” “F.H. Walker:, “A H Buhl” and fourth that is painted on. Hollow construction with square nails securing the bottom board. Delicate wingtips and primary painting on back. Original paint that is worn to a very thin coat; seems to be protected by a wax or finish feed; body has been hit by shot. (5,000 - 8,000) 15. Canvasback hen and drake, John R. Wells, Toronto, Ontario. Hollow carved. Hen is branded “HNT” for Harry Torry, and “Meredith”. Drake is branded “Geo. M. Hendrie”. Original paint with minor wear; small chip missing from one side of hen’s bill; small crack in drake’s breast; touchup on part of black areas of drake. Provenance: Seitz collection. (5,000 - 7,000) 13 16. Important Canada goose from the St. Clair Flats Shooting Company, circa 1870. Hollow carved with tack eyes and distinct bill carving. Branded “Mills” for Francis H. Mills, and “FH Walker”. Mills was a club member beginning in 1879, Walker 1890. Hiram Walker Distillery Winsor, Ontario. One of only two or three known to exist. Original paint with good patina and minor wear; slight roughness to end of bill; several tail chips missing. Provenance: Purchased by the consignor from Barney Crandall around 30 years ago. 16 Detail 16 Detail Literature: “Decoying St. Clair to St. Lawrence,” Barney Crandall, p. 47, exact decoy. “Decoys of Michigan and the Lake St. Clair Region,” Clune Walsh and Lowell Jackson, plate 142, exact decoy. (20,000 - 24,000) St. Clair Flats Shooting Club Members “Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates 16 16 Detail 14 15 Miniatures 17. Pair of miniature mallards, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Approximately 5 3/4” long. Both have metal Perdew tags on underside. Original paint by Edna Perdew with very slight wear; chip missing form underside of drake’s bill. Provenance: O’Key collection. (2,500 - 3,500) 21. Three miniature emperor penguins, Charles Hart, Glocester, Massachusetts, circa 1930s. Carved wood, approximately 3 1/2” tall with lead bases. Paper weights. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on two of the bases; structurally good. (3,500 - 4,500) 21 17 18. Pair of miniature mallards, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Hen is in rare sleeping pose. Approximately 5 1/2” long. Original paint by Edna Perdew with good patina and almost no wear; crack through drake’s neck. Provenance: O’Key collection. (2,500 - 3,500) 22 23 24 18 19. Pair of 1/4 size mallards, John McKendry. Signed. Carved crossed wingtips and fluted tails. Metal tail sprigs on drake. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear. (1,500 - 2,000) 25 26 19 20. Pair of miniature mallards, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Approximately 4 1/2” long, with raised wingtips. Original paint by Charles Perdew; very slight wear, mostly on hen’s bill; tiny chip missing from top of drake’s tail. Provenance: O’Key collection. (1,250 - 1,750) 22. Miniature Canada goose, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250) 23. Miniature bluewing teal drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. Very good and original. (1,000 - 1,400) 24. Miniature American merganser, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts, 2nd quarter 20th century. Bears Crowell’s rectangular stamp on underside. Very good and original. (1,200 - 1,500) 25. 1/4 size mallard hen and drake, Otto Garren, Pekin, Illinois. Marked on underside that they were a gift from Otto to Thelma 1943. Very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection. 26. Two miniatures, Cameron McIntyre, New Church, Virginia. A curlew and a pintail. Original and good. (350 - 450) (1,000 - 1,500) 20 16 17 Illinois River 27 29 29 Detail 28 27. Rare bluebill drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Good comb paint detail on back. Near mint original paint; retains Perdew weight; structurally very good. Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid, p. 59. (4,000 - 6,000) 28. Pair of mallards, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Made without weights, with felt on the flat area of the underside. Very good and original. Provenance: Clark collection. These were the first two Perdew mallards that the Clarks received as part of an order of one dozen. This pair was never rigged with weights. (5,000 - 8,000) 18 27 Detail 29. Rare canvasback drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Very slightly turned head and groove in back inside of each wing. Good feather paint detail with combing on back. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; protected by its original coat of varnish; retains Perdew weight. Provenance: David Galliher collection O’Key collection. Literature: “Charles Perdew,” Ann Tandy Lacey, p. 158. (9,000 - 12,000) 19 36. Canvasback drake with puddle duck tail, Bert Graves, Peoria, Illinois. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few tiny dents; retains Graves weight. 30 31 Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid, p. 88. (2,500 - 3,500) 36 37. Mallard hen, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Charlie’s paint. Retains Perdew weight. Small paint rubs on underside, otherwise very good and original. (3,000 - 4,000) 33 32 37 38. 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. (3,000 - 4,000) 34 30. 31. 35 Rare rigmate pair of mallards, Edgar Vale, Pekin, Illinois. Original paint with minor flaking and wear, mostly on the drake; a few tiny dents. Literature: “Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois,” Paul Parmalee, and Forest Loomis, plate 333, exact decoys. (800 - 1,200) Mallard drake, Jack Swartz, Peoria, Illinois. Original paint by Edna Perdew, with minor wear on most of decoy; old repaint on head and bill; crack at neck base; small chip in underside. Provenance: Clark collection. 32. Mallard drake, Henry Holmes, Bureau, Illinois, last quarter 19th century. Thick comb painting on back and sides. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; hairline crack through neck. (800 - 1,200) 20 (750 - 1,000) 33. Pair of mallards, Cline McAlpin, Chicago, Illinois. Hen has slightly turned head. Near mint original paint; two cracks in drake’s neck. (1,200 - 1,600) 34. Pair of mallards, Harry Canfield, Dallas City, Illinois. Joe French’s number 246F on undersides. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; a crack in each neck; separation at knot at side of drake. Literature: “Decoy and Decoy Carvers of Illinois,” Paul Parmalee and Forest Loomis, plate 146. (950 - 1,250) 35. Silhouette mallard drake, Charles Walker, Princeton, Illinois. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; small dent in head. (1,000 - 1,400) 38 39. Pintail drake, Bert Graves, Peoria, Illinois. “WC” painted near the weight. Original paint with good detail; minor discoloration and wear; a few tiny dents. Provenance: O’Key collection. (2,500 - 3,500) 39 21 Cliff Jolley, was a resident of Princeton, Illinois and also owned the local lumberyard. Charles Walker was the decoy carver at The Princeton Game & Fish Club, established in 1884. Just after WWII, Mr. Jolley ordered one dozen flat bottom carved wing mallards from Walker. He later ordered a dozen round bottom with no tail carving. The number “8” on the underside represents Jolley’s share number at the club. 40 41 42 43 46 44 45 Mallard drake, Robert Weeks, Henry, Illinois. “RW” painted on underside. Weeks stamp in weight. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; a few tiny dents. (900 - 1,200) 43. Mallard drake, Michael Vallero, Spring Valley, Illinois. Good paint detail. Original paint by Edna Perdew, with minor to moderate shrinkage and wear; thin crack through neck. (1,200 - 1,500) 41. Mallard drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Original paint with moderate wear; small dents; retains Perdew weight. (900 - 1,200) 44. Mallard hen and drake, Leonard Doren, Pekin, Illinois. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; a few tiny dents. 40. 42. Rare rigmate pair of mallards, H.D. Traver, Decatur, Illinois. Signed. Tack eyes. Old Bourne auction label on underside of drake. Original paint with detailed feather painting on backs; minor wear. Literature: “Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois,” Paul Parmalee and Forest Loomis. (900 - 1,200) 22 Literature: “Decoys and Decoy Cavers of Illinois,” Paul Parmalee and Forest Loomis. (1,200 - 1,600) 45. Mallard drake, Charles Walker, Princeton, Illinois. An early Charles Walker, but repainted by Edna Perdew. From the Dunbar rig. “FHD” painted on underside for Fred H. Dubbar, an early Princeton member. (1,250 - 1,750) 46 Detail 46 Detail 46. Rare mallard drake, Charles Walker, Princeton, Illinois, circa 1940. “#8” painted on underside, indicating the decoy was in the Jolley rig at the Princeton Fish and Game Club. Extra fine paint detail and good patina. Near mint original paint; hairline crack partway through neck; several tiny dents. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid, p. 84. (14,000 - 18,000) 23 Jim Schmiedlin Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania 47 49 48 47. 24 Rare black duck, Jim Schmiedlin Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Signed and dated 1994. Slightly turned and lifted head. Several small paint rubs, otherwise very good. (5,000 - 7,000) 50 48. Rare gadwall hen, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed 1988. Slightly turned head. Original paint with very minor wear; a few small dents. (5,000 - 7,000) 49. Rare preening ruddy duck, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded signed and dated 2002. One wing is carved in slightly lifted position. Original paint with very minor wear; small crack in lower side. (4,000 - 6,000) 50. Widgeon drake, Jim Schmiedlin, Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Branded and signed. Slightly turned head. Original paint with a few small rubs; minor roughness to keel. (5,000 - 7,000) 25 Contemporary Carvings 51 52 53 54 55 53. 26 Chincoteague, Virginia 57 58 59 60 61 62 56 51. Running curlew, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Relief wing carving. Head is turned slightly to one side. Included is original base that is signed and dated 2008. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good; a few small dents. (1,500 - 2,500) 52. Delbert “Cigar” Daisey Copy of a Lee Dudley ruddy duck, Cameron McIntyre, New Church, Virginia. “CTM” carved in underside. Also “LD”. Original paint that has been aged; a few tiny dents. (1,500 - 2,000) Large merganser drake carved in the Maine tradition, Mark McNair, Craddockville, Virginia. Inlet head. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good. (2,000 - 3,000) 54. Preening black duck, George Strunk, Glendora, New Jersey. “G. Strunk” stamped in weight. Carved, crossed wingtips and fluted tail. Very good and original. (650 - 950) 55. Pair of pintails, Bob White, Tullytown, Pennsylvania. Carved in the Delaware River tradition with Bob White weights on the underside. Original paint that has darkened a little with age; structurally good. (1,000 - 1,400) 56. Preening mallard drake, Ian McNair. Original paint that has been aged; numerous small dents in one side of body as part of the aging process. (1,000 - 1,500) 57. Very rare pair of ringbills, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Detailed feather carving and fluted tails. Small paint rub on tip of drake’s bill, otherwise very good and original. (1,000 - 1,500) 58. Pair of mergansers, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Both have detailed feather carving. Drake has fluted tail. Both have slightly turned heads. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 59. Pair of ruddy ducks, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Drake has very slightly turned head. Wingtip and tail carving. Very good and original. (650 - 950) 60. Pair of buffleheads, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Wingtip carving. Very good and original. (650 - 950) 61. Canada goose, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded “Cigar” in underside and keel. Carved, crossed wingtips. Small short crack in back, otherwise very good and original. (650 - 950) 62. Large sickle billed curlew, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Dated 1983. Relief wing carving. Approximately 20” long. Wooden base is included. Very good and original. (600 - 900) 27 New England 65. Self bailing scoter, Joseph Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts, 1st quarter 20th century. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor wear; professional repair to a chip in top of bill; small cracks in body; lightly hit by shot. (1,200 - 1,600) 65 66. 63 Rare goldeneye hen, Joseph Lincoln, Accord, Massachusetts, 1st quarter 20th century. Exceptionally fine feather paint detail on breast, lower sides and center of back. Near mint original paint; slight wear on edges of tail; decoy has been waxed. Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Joseph Lincoln,” Cap Vinal, p. 54. (3,000 - 4,000) 66 67. Monhegan island style scoter, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine. Inlet head and relief wing carving. Old in use repaint; at one time a bottom part of the bill was added to the original bill so the decoy now has an open bill with mussel in it. (1,500 - 2,000) 64 67 63. Hollow carved bluebill hen, Shang Wheeler, Stratford, Connecticut, circa 1930s. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor wear; several small dents and shot marks. Literature: “Shang,” Dixon Merkt. 64. Very rare canvasback hen, Lou Rathmell, Stratford, Connecticut. Slightly turned head and in feeding pose. Carved wingtips and good comb paint detail. Very good and original. (4,000 - 6,000) 28 68. Early Monhegan island style scoter, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine. Inlet head, relief wing carving and carved eyes. Old in use repaint; small cracks; small chips in tail; small cracks and defects in underside. Provenance: O’Key collection. (1,000 - 1,400) (4,500 - 6,500) 64 Detail 68 29 Augustus Wilson 1864 - 1950 South Portland, Maine 69. Important Monhegan Island style breast preening scoter, Gus Wilson, South Portland, Maine, last quarter 19th century. Carved eyes, relief wing carving, and inlet head. Original paint with minor wear; old overpaint has been taken off of the white areas; small cracks; old filler in small knot hole in back of neck; a few small dents. Provenance: First place winner for a Maine sea duck in the vintage decoy contest Ohio Decoy Collectors Show, 2006. Literature: “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph, p. 24. “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 208. (55,000 - 75,000) 69 Detail Gus Wilson 69 Detail 30 69 Detail The Project Gutenberg of Birds, Published 1879 69 31 Mason Decoy Factory 1896 - 1924 Detroit, Michigan 70. Outstanding bluewing teal, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1st quarter 20th century. Round body style with head slightly positioned upward. Unrigged. Near mint, very small amount of wear at edge of tail and top of head. (2,000 - 3,000) 71. Very rare rigmate pair of mergansers, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Standard grade with tack eyes, circa 1910. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; both have professional neck filler restoration; each has a small crack in the underside; hen has been very lightly hit by shot. (3,000 - 4,000) 70 74 71 72. Rare goldeneye hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade. Thick original paint with very minor wear; some paint has flaked out of the neck seam; small defect in wood at end of tail; short crack in underside. (3,000 - 4,000) 72 74 Detail 73. Bluebill drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Original paint with very minor wear; dent in one side of head. (2,000 - 3,000) 74. Outstanding and very rare goldeneye drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Near mint original paint with slight discoloration; extra fine paint detail at speculums; Mason paint swirls visible on most of the white area. Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 63, exact decoy. (17,500 - 22,500) 73 32 Exact decoy pictured in “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid 33 The Mason Decoy Factory was the first to effectively use salesman samples as a tool for selling decoys. They made them in a number of different species, grades and styles. See plate 177 of Mason Decoys, Goldberger and Haid. 75 76 81 77 78 79 80 75. Gray coot, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1st quarter 20th century. Challenge grade with challenge stamp on underside. Paint appears to have been cleaned down; a coat of varnish was added; some paint loss at neck seam and an area at one knot; shot scar on back; a few small nicks. (1,500 - 2,000) 76. Mallard drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; crack at neck base; small rough area on underside. (1,000 - 1,500) 77. 78. 34 Pintail hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1st quarter 20th century. Challenge grade with early snakey head. Original paint with minor wear; several small dents in back; much of the neck filler is missing; tight body crack runs length of one side. (1,800 - 2,200) Canada goose, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1st quarter 20th century. Premier grade. Body is in mostly worn original paint with rubs to bare wood; a few small dents; crack runs from front of breast to back of tail; restoration to one area on lower neck, one side of bill; white patches on cheeks appear to have been repainted. (1,500 - 2,000) 79. Rare lowhead rigmate pair of bluebills, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1st quarter 20th century. Premier grade. Both are in mostly original paint with some touchup around the neck seat area; appears as if both have had paint removed from the bills; dowels at top of head are slightly raised; several shot marks in bodies; minor seam separation. Provenance: Seitz collection. Both previously in the collection of John Hillman, Sea Girt, New Jersey. Both have Hillman stamp on underside. (2,000 - 3,000) 80. Canvasback drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Branded “HHB” twice in underside for Harvey Brown. Original paint; numerous shot scars to body; small crack at top of back; area around neck where paint has worn off. Provenance: Seitz collection. (1,500 - 2,500) 82 81. Rare salesman sample mallard drake, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow premier grade. Probably painted on a teal body. Strong feather swirling on back. Highly detailed painting near wingtips and tail. Original paint with slight seam separation; thumbnail size portion of a tail chip has been reattached; slight roughness to end of bill; a few small nicks and rubs. (4,000 - 6,000) 82 Detail 82. Classic brant, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Challenge grade. “Barron rig” branded twice on body. For information about Barron brand see Decoy Magazine, Nov/ Dec 2015. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; old touchup to some small worn areas on edges of tail; small surface cracks. Provenance: Dyke collection. (4,000 - 6,000) 35 83 84 83 Detail 83. Exceptional mallard hen, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Early premier grade with outstanding paint and form. Near mint original paint; structurally very good. Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 21. 36 84 Detail 84. Outstanding black duck, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Premier grade. Bold loop feather painting. Hairline crack at one side of neck seat, otherwise very good and original. (6,000 - 9,000) (7,500 - 10,000) 37 Fish 84A 84A. Large carved walleye fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. 10” long. Double weight in underside. Very strong original paint protected by an old coat of varnish; a few small areas of paint loss at fins; professional repair to top of tail fin; a few faintly visible marks near back on one side. (3,500 - 4,500) 85. 85 86. 89. Two fishing items, 1st half 20th century. A bait store sign and a wooden bait box. Sign is approximately 15” x 22”. Bait box is approximately 24” x 11” x 11”. Vents are carved fish outlines covered with screen. Metal liner in bottom; initials “GT” are in the front; two dry flies are painted on the top. Original and good. Provenance: Shippee collection. (2,500 - 3,500) Perch fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan, 1st half 20th century. Similar to works made in period 2. Approximately 7 1/2” long. Double belly weight and tack eyes. Original paint protected by an old coat of varnish small paint loss on belly weight and fins. (2,000 - 3,000) 89 Large pike, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 8” long. Original paint with very minor flaking on fins; paint loss on weights. (2,000 - 3,000) 86 89 Detail 87. 89 Red shiner fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 7 1/4” long. Original paint with minor wear; thin crack in underside. (2,000 - 2,500) 87 90 88. 88 38 Trout fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 6 3/4” long. Small amount of wear on metal line holder, otherwise very good and original. (1,500 - 2,500) 90. Muskie Weathervane, Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, circa, 1910. Two dimensional wooden body in very good condition with inletted metal fins. Detail carving on tail and head with metal button eyes. Original weathered paint in green, black and white. 49.5”l x 9.5”h. For many years this vane was atop a fishing supply store at Presque Isle and has been in the same private folk art collection for the past 40 years. Original paint that has worn from varying degrees from top down; a few small dents; very tip of back fin has broken off. Literature: Akron Art Institute, Akron OH. “American Folk Art in Ohio Collections” 1976. “Ohio Folk Art Exhibition.” Ohio Antique Review, 12/1976.“Underwater Decoys: Fish.” Ohio Antique Review, 6/1977 and North American DecoysWinter 1977-78. Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio. “The Images of Folk Art” 1978. Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio. “Folk Art from the Mid-West” 1979. (2,000 - 3,000) 39 93 91 94 93. Fine trout fish decoy with jigging stick from Lake Chautauqua, New York, last quarter 19th century. Approximately 7” long with leather tail, metal fins, and tack eyes. Detailed gill carving. Slight curve to leather tail. Original paint with good detail and patina; minor wear; structurally very good. (7,000 - 9,000) 94. Fish decoy from Lake Chautauqua, New York, last quarter 19th century. Classic leather tail. Metal fins. Line tie through upper part of body, tack eyes, carved gill and mouth. Similar to work of Charles Irwin. Two shades of brown covered by silver fleck paint pattern. One side of tail appears to have been touched up where it is attached to body; good and original. (4,000 - 6,000) 95. Fish decoy from Lake Chautauqua, New York, last quarter 19th century. Metal fins and leather tail. Approximately 6 3/4” long. Minor flaking on metal fins, otherwise very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000) 96. Fish decoy from Lake Chautauqua, New York, last quarter 19th century. Metal fins and turned leather tail. Pronounced gill carving and metal eyes. Approximately 7 1/2” long. Small amount of flaking, mostly on underside. (2,000 - 3,000) 97. Fish decoy with jigging stick, Lake Chautauqua, New York, last quarter 19th century. Metal fins and curved leather tail. Tack eyes. Approximately 6 1/2” long. Small amount of flaking on underside, otherwise very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000) 92 92A 91. Spectacular set of spearing decoys from Michigan. Includes three perch and one trout. Large one measures 7” long. Then 5 1/2” and 3”. All are thick bodied, have carved gills and mouths. Well painted. Tail chip repair on smallest by Russ Allen. (5,000 - 6,000) 92. 40 Large bass, Theodore Vanderbosche, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, circa 1930. A bold thick carving with exaggerated gill and mouth. Heavy lead weight in underside. Tack eyes. Traces of original paint; appears as if an old coat of silver has been removed, perhaps this was done to create a reflective image. (2,000 - 3,000) 92A. Yellow perch, Andy Trombley, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, circa 1940s. 12” in length. Realistic scale pattern on sides. Glass eyes and metal side fins. Small amount of paint loss on metal fins. Literature: “Underwater Decoys,” Gene Kangas, North American Decoy Magazine, Spring 1978, p. 16, exact decoy. (3,000 - 4,000) 95 96 97 41 David Ward George Warin 1839 - 1912 Toronto, Ontario 1830 - 1905 Toronto, Ontario 98 99 98 Detail 98 Detail 98. 42 Rare Canada goose, David Ward, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Hollow carved. Branded “HNT”, “Meredith”, and “Thos. Chambers” on underside. Subtle feather painting on breast. Glass eyes. Thin original paint with minor wear; moderate flaking at wood imperfections on back and tail; chip is missing at end of tail; and crack in bill was secured with a nail through underside; slight crazing to body paint on lower sides. (15,000 - 20,000) 99 Detail 99 Detail 99. Important Canada goose, George Warin, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Branded “G&J Warin. Maker Toronto”, also has an “H” carved in the underside. Hollow with bottom board, glass eyes with fine subtle feather painting. Fine original paint; crack through neck shows remnants of old glue that was used to resecure it; two tail chips expose oxidized wood; small area where wood putty has broken away from body seam under tail and thin paint has worn to bare wood on some areas. Literature: “Decoying St. Clair to the St. Lawrence”, Barney Crandall, p. 138, exact decoy. (12,000 - 15,000) 43 100.Bluebill hen, Bud Tully, Peterborough, Ontario. Detailed wing carving with crossed wingtips and turned head. Very good and original. (3,000 - 4,000) 100 101. Rigmate pair of canvasbacks, Frank Dolsen, Lake St. Clair, Ontario. Both have Frank’s brand carved in underside. Some imperfections to wood on side of drake; both are very dry and have darkened with age; original paint with some small areas of paint loss. (1,800 - 2,200) 104 101 102. Excellent hollow bluebill hen, James Harper, Hamilton, Ontario. Original paint with some old working touchup to the bill, and to the small white areas of the speculums; very good structurally. (2,500 - 3,500) 105 105 Detail 104 Detail 102 103.Canvasback drake, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow carved “Short body” style. Branded “JTN” and “DWH”. Good comb paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents; professional bill chip repair. (3,000 - 5,000) 103 44 104. Exceptional black duck, Bud Tully, Peterborough, Ontario. Graceful and slightly turned head. Highly detailed relief wing carving with crossed wingtips. Near mint original paint; structural excellent. Provenance: O’Key collection. 105. Rare rigmate pair of wood ducks, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario. Original paint with very slight wear; structurally very good. (6,000 - 9,000) (4,000 - 6,000) 45 107 106 112 Detail In the 1970s there was a farm sale outside of Markham, Ontario. At the sale, a number of decoys were sold, which are now known as the “Markham Rig.” Some of the decoys were thought to have been made by Walker Moorley and some by a talented unknown maker. Lot 6, in this sale, is one of the only bluebill drakes known, most of the bluebills were hens. The most interesting decoys in the 108 109 110 111 106. Greenwing teal hen from Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Slightly turned head and relief wing carving and notched tail. Rigmate to lot 7 in this auction. Original paint with moderate wear; chip missing from end of bill. (1,000 - 2,000) 107. 108. 46 Mallard hen, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario. Original paint with minor wear; hairline crack partway through bill. (900 - 1,200) Pair of bluebills, D.W. Nichol, Smith Falls, Ontario. Both are stamped “Hesford” in underside. Relief wingtip carving. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) group had heavily carved mandibles and nostrils as the redhead hen being sold here exhibits. 109. Redhead drake, Charles Reeves, Long Point, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Branded “J.S.M.” twice in underside for Junius S. Morgan, a member at the Long Point Club. 1929 - 1960. Solid body covered in canvas. Paint on bill appears to be original; some original paint on head; body is a mix of original and old working repaint. (800 - 1,000) 110. Redhead drake, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario. Head is turned approximately 10 degree to one side. Very good and original. (2,000 - 3,000) 111. Mallard drake, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario. Excellent and original. (2,000 - 3,000) 112 112. Hollow carved redhead hen from the Markham rig. Very slightly turned head. Thick original paint with a few small rubs; structurally very good. (8,000 - 12,000) 47 Ben Schmidt 1884 - 1968 Detroit, Michigan 113. Greenwing teal hen, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, 2nd quarter 20th century. Slightly turned head. Feather stamping over entire body, including area between wings and tail. Signed “Ben J Schmidt” on underside. Never rigged. (3,000 - 4,000) 113 114. Possibly one of a kind pair of ringnecks, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1940s. On underside of drake written by Dick Lancaster, “Bought from Ben J. Schmidt in early 40’s by Dick Lancaster. Has hung in our hall since that time.” Hen has green felt glued to underside. Mint. 114 115. 115 Provenance: From the estate of Dick and Louise Lancaster. Dick Lancaster visited Ben Schmidt’s shop in the 1940’s and 1950’s. This lot was ordered directly from Ben Schmidt by Lancaster based on Lancaster’s desire to have Ben make one of all of the species in North America. (4,000 - 5,000) 117 117. Very rare rigmate pair of bluewing teal, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1940s. Fine carving detail and very slightly turned heads. Near mint original paint; structurally excellent. Possibly unique spectacled eider, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1940s or 1950s. Special ordered by Dick Lancaster from Ben Schmidt with accurate eider bill carving and unique bill patches. Leather attached to bottom with Lancaster’s “L” stamped in underside. Slight mellowing to white. Near mint. Literature: “Michigan Decoys,” Lowell Jackson and Clune Walsh. (10,000 - 14,000) Provenance: From the estate of Dick and Louise Lancaster. Dick Lancaster visited Ben Schmidt’s shop in the 1940’s and 1950’s. This lot was ordered directly from Ben Schmidt by Lancaster based on Lancaster’s desire to have Ben make one of all of the species in North America. (3,000 - 4,000) 116. Greenwing teal drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Slightly turned head. Signed on the underside. Very good and original. (2,500 - 3,500) 116 48 117 Detail 49 120 121 118 122 Photo taken inside Ben Schmidt’s workshop, Centerline, Michigan, circa 1930s. Andrew Kruzman, noted Michigan wildlife artist, found these three field goose decoys, which are the only known Schmidt field geese, in London, Ontario in the 1960s while on a hunting trip. They stayed in his collection for over 30 years. He traded the three geese, one at a time for 119 automobiles at a northern Michigan dealership, where they have resided until now. 118. 50 Hollow Canada goose, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1930. From the famous Rodgers Rig, Port Boston, which is inscribed in bottom board on underside. Slightly turned head. Both have feather stamping and wing carving. Strong original paint; slight separation on one side of neck; a few tight checks that run the length of the body. (4,000 - 6,000) 119. Snow goose, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1930. Well blended coloration between bill and face. Painted tail and feather carving. Original paint; structurally good. Literature: “Decoys,” Gene and Linda Kangas p. 150, exact decoy. (4,500 - 6,500) 120. Hollow carved calling goose field decoy, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Worn original paint; cracks in body; tail chip missing; professional bill repair. (3,000 - 5,000) 121. Canada goose field decoy, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Hollow carved. Original paint with moderate wear on most of body; black paint on head has been touched up; small cracks; minor roughness to edges of tail. (3,000 - 5,000) 122. Reaching Canada goose field decoy, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Mix of original paint and old in use repaint; with moderate wear; separation at body seam. (2,000 - 3,000) 51 130. Exceptional and rare pair of ruddy ducks, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1940. Both have leather glued to underside. Written on underside of drake, “1944, ruddy duck by Ben J. Schmidt, for Louise and Dick Lancaster Farmington, Michigan.” Drake has carved fan tail. Hen has exceptional feather stamping. Near mint. 123 124 130 131. Rigmate pair of canvasbacks, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Both have a “G” carved in underside. Both have feather stamping and carved wing patches and wingtips. Original paint with moderate wear. (1,200 - 1,500) 126 125 Provenance: From the estate of Dick and Louise Lancaster. Dick Lancaster visited Ben Schmidt’s shop in the 1940’s and 1950’s. This lot was ordered directly from Ben Schmidt by Lancaster based on Lancaster’s desire to have Ben make one of all of the species in North America. (4,000 - 6,000) 131 127 128 123. Redhead hen and drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Original paint with minor wear; small amount of touchup at lower sides of hen; crack in hen’s underside; tiny shot marks. (950 - 1,250) 124. Preening canvasback drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Hollowed out from the underside. Original paint with minor wear; small dents; crack in underside. (800 - 1,200) 125. Black duck, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1940s. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally good. Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 192. (800 - 1,200) 126. Mallard hen and drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Earlier style. Drake has a mix of original paint and working touchup as well as a small crack in the 52 129 132. Pair of mallards, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Original paint with minor wear; moderate flaking and wear on drake’s bill; a few tiny dents. Provenance: Nerwin collection. (1,200 - 1,600) body; hen appears to be a black duck completely repainted by Schmidt; traces of dark brown paint showing through. (650 - 950) 127. Mallard hen, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, 2nd quarter 20th century. Slightly oversized. Stamped “FB” numerous times in underside. Good and original. Provenance: Seitz collection. (500 - 800) 128.Canvasback hen, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; lightly hit by shot; touchup on part of bill; crack in underside. (400 - 600) 129. Hollow carved mallard drake, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Slightly turned head. Original paint on most of the decoy; painted neck base appears to be working touch up; small dents and cracks. (400 - 600) 132 133. Rare blue goose, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; small cracks in body; two chips missing from one side. (3,000 - 4,000) 133 53 Shorebirds 137 134 135 136 134. Golden plover from Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. Tack eyes and wide “beetle” head style. Original paint with very slight wear; hairline crack in one side of head. 138 Provenance: From a hunting rig discovered in 2002 that contained shorebirds by Elmer Crowell and Lothrop Hol mes. (3,000 - 4,000) and relief wing carving. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; some old touchup at eyes and on bill; very lightly hit by shot. (1,500 - 2,000) 136. Golden plover from Nantucket Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. Very sharply chinned bottom edges of body. Original paint with minor wear; baleen bill appears to be an old replacement. (2,500 - 3,500) 137. Yellowlegs, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire, 1st quarter 20th century. Fine feather paint detail and shoe button eyes. Small paint flakes missing at nail in top of head; original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; structurally very good. 138. Black bellied plover in spring plumage, George Boyd, Seabrook, New Hampshire, 1st quarter 20th century. Fine feather paint detail. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; good patina; touchup to several tiny paint rubs. (4,000 - 6,000) Literature: “New England Decoys,” John and Shirley Delph, p. 50. (4,000 - 6,000) 135. Greater yellowlegs, Charles Thomas, Assinippi, Massachusetts. Approximately 14” long with tack eyes 54 55 141 Detail 141 Detail 141 139 140 139. Rigmate pair of willets, Charles Thomas, Assinippi, Massachusetts. Relief wing carving and shoe button eyes. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; age split in underside of each; one has been hit by shot, the other lightly hit by shot. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Robert Gerard. (2,000 - 3,000) 140. Lesser yellowlegs from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, last quarter 19th century. Subtle feather paint detail and baleen bill. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on one side and edges of tail; approximately half of baleen bill is missing. (1,200 - 1,800) 141. Fine black bellied plover, Obediah Verity, Seaford, Long Island, New York, 3rd quarter 19th century. A large decoy with relief wing carving and carved eyes. Wide “beetle” head style. Black on breast appears to be second coat, the rest is original with good patina and minor wear; professional bill repair; seven tiny shot marks on one side. 56 Literature: “Shorebird Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 42. (25,000 - 35,000) 57 Delaware River John English 1852 - 1915 Florence, New Jersey Pintails by John James Audubon John English was one of the earliest major decoy makers from the Delaware River region. He is credited with having introduced the “Delaware River” school of carving which most all of the subsequent Delaware River makers followed. Characteristics of this school of carving included carved and raised “V” shaped wingtips, incised carving at the tail, and often low contented heads. John English was a masterful painter as well as carver. His carving was exceptional and always found in nearly perfect proportions. His plumage patterns were applied in greater detail than most other makers from the region. A rigmate to this pintail sold at a Guyette & Schmidt auction in July 2007 for a world record $215,000. 142 142 Detail 142 Detail 58 142. Very rare pintail hen, John English, Bordentown, New Jersey, last quarter 19th century. Very fine form with raised “V” wingtip carving and fluted tail. Fine feather paint detail. Original paint with minor wear, mostly on underside and one edge of tail; several tiny dents. Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, p. 54. (30,000 - 40,000) 59 145. Black duck, William Quinn, Yardley, Pennsylvania. Good form with raised “V” wing carving and fluted tail. Original paint with minor wear; structurally very good. Provenance: O’Key collection. Formerly in collection of David Campbell. “DSC” stamp in underside. Literature: “Floating Sculpture,” Harrison Huster and Doug Knight, p. 99. (3,500 - 4,500) 145 143 146. Rare mallard hen in sleeping pose, Jess Heisler, Burlington, New Jersey. Hollow three piece construction. With pad weight on underside. Detailed feather painting with raised primaries. Carved tail. Strong original paint; with a few rubs exposing bare wood; one shot scar across the top of tail; seam separation around body; at some point a long time ago a gray wash or sealer was applied to the body seam, but is not highly visible; crack at breast at lower bottom board. (3,500 - 5,500) 146 147. English/Dawson bluebill drake, last quarter 19th century. Second coat of paint by John Dawson, Trenton, New Jersey, circa 1920s; structurally good. 144 Hand painted signature “darl” and WMD stencil on bottom Provenance: Bartlett collection. (3,000 - 4,000) 147 144 Detail 143. Solid body mallard hen, most recently attributed to Arthur B. Vance, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, third quarter 19th century. Tack eyes and subtle feather paint detail. Small square peg in underside. Plug in knot in one side of breast. With minor cracking and chipping there. Original paint with wear on bottom edges; minor wear on the rest of the decoy; repair to a small chip in one side of the tai; a few small dents. 144. Historically important “Ohio/Philadelphia School” Mallard hen with hand painted nickname “Darl” and stenciled initials WMD, circa 1850s. The decoy’s owner was William McCullough Darlington (1815-1889), an affluent Pittsburg lawyer and founding member of the Winous Point Shooting Club in 1856. Sweeping long swimming body with excellent detailed original paint for a century and a half old decoy. The decoy was used in northwestern Ohio, circa 1840-50. An imperfection appears to have an in the making or early hunter’s repair to a wood separation on one side; small amount of inpainting has been done at head, neck seat, and lower portion of bill. 60 Provenance: Found in Philadelphia with the classic John Blair, Sr. mallard drake in our April 2013 auction. (4,000 - 6,000) Literature: “WMD the Missing Link,” Decoy Magazine July/August 2012 pp. 24-31. Featured both on the magazine cover and in the article. (2,500 - 3,500) 148. Mallard drake, John Blair, Sr., Philladelphia, Pennsylvania, last quarter 19th century. Hollow carved with body halves joined by two small dowels. Branded “JG Hearon”. Paint has been restored in the Blair style; thin cracks in underside; several small shot marks. (1,500 - 2,500) 148 61 Arthur B. Vance 1818 - 1889 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Birdseye view of Philadelphia around 1840 For generations decoys collectors accepted, but struggled, with the concept that John Blair made so many different grades of decoys. This, compounded with the differences in construction between the styles, only worked to raise more questions about the authenticity of the attribution. Only recently, has part of the mystery been solved. Russ Allen, a fan of Philadelphia decoys and a history buff, was working on a lower grade - or “Blair style” - decoy for a client. In doing so, he opened up the two halves of the body and discovered the signature of A. B. Vance. The pursuit of researching this signature has shed light on the maker of many, but not all of the decoys once known as 149 149 Detail “Blair style.” Arthur B. Vance can now be credited as a founding member of the Philadelphia school of decoys, having signed the inside of a number of them as early as 1874. This exact decoy is pictured in Russ Allen’s article on A.B. Vance in the May/ June 2014 issue of Decoy Magazine. 149. Very rare bufflehead drake, Arthur B. Vance, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last quarter 19th century. Hollow carved with raised neck seat and tack eyes. Subtle feather paint detail branded “EH Steever” for Edgar H. Steever, who was listed as owning a carpentry business in the 1875 Philadelphia census. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few tiny dents. (15,000 - 20,000) 149 Detail 62 63 150 Paintings 150. Important painting by Henry Machen, Toledo, Ohio, circa 1879. Only known example of his work with two hanging prairie chicken. Signed “Machen, Toledo” at the bottom. Image is 22” x 26 1/2”. Four small areas of inpainting, but not in important areas; canvas has been relined professionally. (3,500 - 4,500) 152 152.”Morning Flight/Woodcock,” watercolor of woodcocks in forest, David Hagerbaumer. Signed and dated 1983. Professionally matted and framed. Image size approximately 12 1/2” x 15”. Very good and original. Provenance: This painting was used for a limited edition lithograph with a run of 450. (2,000 - 2,500) 151.Large and important pheasant painting, Jim Foote, Detroit, Michigan. Dated 9/1990 and copyrighted. Oil on canvas board. Framed. Image size approximately 35” x 24”. A few cock pheasants and one hen. This was a image from which Jim Foote duplicated and sold many prints. (2,000 - 2,500) In 1848, William Machen’s family immigrated from Germany and settled in Toledo, OH. He was a naturalist by inclination and studied extensively in that area. In his lifetime, William Machen completed more than 2700 oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and sketches. He maintained a single register of his works which is now preserved in the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. He exhibited his work at the Pennsylvania Academy, the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and the Detroit Museum of Art. 153. Watercolor of flying teal with decoys in marsh, David Hagerbaumer. Signed and dated 1983. Professionally triple matted and framed. Image size approximately 14” x 21”. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250) 153 151 154 154. Watercolor of pintails flying over decoys, David Hagerbaumer. Signed. Professionally matted and framed. Image size approximately 11” x 16”. Very good and original. (1,750 - 2,250) 64 65 Elmer Crowell 1864 - 1954 East Harwich, Massachusetts 155 Detail 155 Detail 155. Rigmate pair of goldeneye, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Both have Crowell’s oval brand in the underside. Both have fine feather paint detail and fluted tails. Drake’s head is slightly turned. Original paint with good patina and very minor wear; moderate wear under drake’s tail; a few small dents. Provenance: Milne collection. (13,000 - 16,000) Elmer Crowell outside his shop 155 155 Detail 66 159 Detail 156 156. Mallard drake, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Slightly turned head. Crowell’s rectangular stamp is in the underside. “Quandy collection” brand in underside. A few very small dents otherwise, very good and original. (5,000 - 8,000) 159 157 157. Black duck, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich. “B. Hasselton” brand in underside. Also “Quandy collection” brand in underside. Slightly turned head. Original paint with very minor wear; small crack and rough spot on one side. (3,500 - 5,500) 158.Cork body mallard hen, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Cork body with wooden head and bottom board. Crowell’s oval brand is in the underside. “Winthrop brand in underside. Original paint with very minor wear; slight wear to cork at tail; small crack in top of head. 158 68 Provenance: Milne collection. (2,500 - 3,500) 159 Detail 159. Very rare pair of cork body widgeon, Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, Massachusetts. Cork bodies with wooden heads and bottom boards. Both have Crowell’s oval brand in the underside. “Winthrop” brand in underside of drake. Original paint with minor wear; a few tiny rough spots to cork. Provenance: Milne collection. From the Winthrop rig, Long Island, New York, and so branded. (7,500 - 9,500) 69 Virginia and North Carolina 160 Ira Hudson, July 1941 Photo taken by Charles Humphrey At the first quarter of the twentieth century, mallard ducks were nearly nonexistent on the eastern shore of Virginia, including Ira Hudson’s home of Chincoteague, Virginia. For a waterman who made decoys for a living, it makes sense that he spent most of his efforts creating geese, brant, black ducks, bluebills, cansvasbacks and pintails. It is likely that he even made more mergansers and buffleheads than mallards.The mallard species must have intrigued him however, since he made a fair amount of wall flyers 160 Detail in that species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only Ira Hudson 160 Detail Mallard we have ever sold. It is an opportunity to acquire an incredibly rare species by an important maker. 160. Important mallard drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Large round body and fluted tail. Good paint detail. Original paint with no wear; never rigged; paint shrinkage on breast; small paint flakes missing from top of tail; small crack at knot in lower side. 70 Literature: “Ira Hudson and Family,” Henry Stansbury, p. 110. (17,500 - 22,500) 71 161. Round body style brant, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1920s. Good form and fine paint detail. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; crack in both sides and underside; small rough spot in wood on one side from when the decoy was made. Provenance: Dyke collection. (3,500 - 4,500) 161 164 162. Canvasback drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Very round body style. Original paint with minor flaking and wear; thin cracks in neck; very small filled area with touchup by tie strap. Provenance: O’Key collection. (1,750 - 2,250) 162 163.Hollow carved Canada goose, Charles Birch, Willis Wharf, Virginia. Original paint with moderate wear; bill is a professional replacement; crack through neck; cracks in body; small chip missing from tail. (3,000 - 4,000) 165 164. Fine black duck, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1920s. Very full round body style with deep feather carving in tail and scratch loop feather paint. Original paint with minor wear; some neck filler missing from neck seat; small knot in back has risen slightly. Provenance: Dyke collection. Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 34. (5,000 - 8,000) 165. Rigmate pair of bluebills, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia, circa 1920s. Flat bottom style with deep ice groove behind neck. Good scratch paint detail. Original paint with minor to moderate wear on drake; moderate wear on hen; several cracks in hen’s body. 163 72 Provenance: Dyke collection. Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr., p. 64. (4,500 - 6,500) 164 Detail 73 Pacific Coast Charles Bergman 1856 - 1946 Astoria, Oregon 166 167 168 169 172 172 Detail 170 166.Canvasback hen, Dave “Umbrella’ Watson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Balsa body and cedar head. Original paint with very minor wear; a few small dents. Provenance: Milne collection. Formerly in the collection of Bill Purnell, Purnell brand in underside. Literature: “Southern Decoys,” Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. p. 80. (1,500 - 2,500) 167. Coot with cast aluminum head, J.L. Rowe, Virginia Beach, Virginia. “Rowe” brand in underside. Original paint with minor wear; crack in underside. (650 - 950) 168.Canada goose, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Old in use repaint; numerous cracks and age 74 171 splits; bill appears to be replaced. Provenance: Nerwin collection. (500 - 750) 172 Detail 169. Pintail drake, Ira Hudson, Chincoteague, Virginia. Worn old paint with some original showing; small dents. (450 - 650) 170. Large canvasback drake, William Wright, Jarvisberg, North Carolina, 1st quarter 20th century. Worn old paint; numerous cracks; rough area at one side of neck. (1,750 - 2,250) 171. Widgeon drake, Ivey Stevens, Cedar Island, North Carolina. Old in use repaint; crack through neck; small crack in underside. (800 - 1,200) 172. Very rare hollow carved greenwing teal hen, Charles Bergman, Astoria, Oregon. Near mint original paint; protected by its original coat of clear varnish; never rigged. Provenance: O’Key collection. Formerly in the William Carter collection. Literature: Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson, p. 75. (8,000 - 12,000) 75 173 174 177 175 173. Greenwing teal hen, Amiel Garibaldi, Sacramento, California. Slight relief wing carving and glass eyes. Head is turned approximately 10 degrees to one side. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; structurally very good; reglued crack in neck. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of James McCleery. Lot 12 in the Guyette & Schmidt, Inc./Sotheby’s January 2000 auction. McCleery stamp and Sotheby’s sticker on underside. Acquired by Dr. McCleery from Lew Clingon in 1972. 176 Suisun Marsh. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration and wear; a few small dents; minor crack through neck. Literature: “Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson, p. 197. (600 - 900) 175.Pintail drake, Amiel Garibaldi, Sacramento, California. Slightly turned head. Worn original paint; small dents. Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Wildfowl Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Frederick Hanson, p. 239. (3,000 - 5,000) Literature: “Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson, p. 239. (500 - 800) 174. 176.Canvasback drake, Richard Jansen, Napa, California. Paint has been restored; a few small dents. 76 Pintail drake from the Walter Straub rig, San Francisco, California, circa 1930. Redwood construction. Relief wing carving. Used at the Roaring River Duck Club in 178 Provenance: O’Key collection. (400 - 700) 177. Exceptional pair of pintails, Horace “Hie” Crandall, San Francisco, California. Champhered bottom edge and relief wing carving with feather detail. Rigged but never used; exceptional near mint original paint; hairline crack partway through hen’s neck; crack in one of the hen’s eyes. Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Wildlife Decoys of the Pacific Coast,” Michael Miller and Fred Hanson, p. 362. (6,500 - 9,500) 178. Hollow Pintail drake carved by Charles Bergman with intricate original paint by Oscar Karl Hendrickson (18831953), Astoria, Oregon, circa 1920s. Hendrickson’s subtle detail via extensive feather elaboration elevated Bergman’s graceful decoys. Overall Bergman’s form and Hendrickson’s paint were combined to make this an outstanding West Coast decoy. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Markel Eskra Literature: “Helsinki of the West,” Decoy Magazine September/ October 2012, pp. 24-28. Featured on the magazine cover as well as in multiple detailed photographs in the article. (4,000 - 6,000) 77 Illinois River Historians agree that Hiram Hotze of Peoria, Illinois, was a talented and meticulous decoy maker. It is said he only used the finest pieces of pine and the highest quality artist oil paints available. His production has been reported as being around one hundred canvasback and mallard decoys. A devoted outdoorsman who stamped H.H. on most of the weights attached to his decoys, he even went as far as to sign and date the inside of the hollow bodies. More recent information has surfaced proving that Hotze decoys were often sold through the well known Portman’s Sporting Goods Store in Peoria, Illinois. 180 179 179 Detail 179 Detail 181 179. Exceptional canvasback drake, Hiram Hotze, Peoria, Illinois. Near mint original paint; structural very good; barely used. Provenance: O’Key collection. Formerly in the Peter Van Trigt collection. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid, p. 172. 78 (7,500 - 9,500) 180. Rigmate pair of pintails, Roy Patterson, Chillicothe, Illinois. Signed. Drake is dated 1946. Both have slightly turned heads and good paint detail. Original paint with very light wear; tight crack most of the way through hen’s neck; drake has minor paint shrinkage on head. Provenance: From the Patterson family. Literature: Decoy Magazine, March/April 2004, Article on Roy Patterson, Donna Tonelli, exact decoys. (6,000 - 9,000) 181. Mallard hen and drake, Roy Patterson, Chillicothe, Illinois. Both are signed. Drake is dated 1946, hen 1945. Drake has slightly turned head. Original paint with very minor wear; minor shrinkage on drake’s head. Provenance: From the Patterson family Literature: Decoy Magazine, March/April 2004, Article on Roy Patterson, Donna Tonelli, exact decoys. (4,500 - 6,500) 79 182 183 184 185 188 188 Detail 186 182. Mallard hen and drake, Charles Sheldon, Tiskilwa, Illinois. Sheldon’s stamp in weights. Thick original paint with minor flaking and wear; drake has a small chip missing from one side of tail; a thin crack in the neck and bill; small chips missing from top of drake’s bill. (1,500 - 2,000) 183. Very rare Canada goose, George Barto, Putnam, Illinois. Original paint on lower half, the rest has appealing old in use repaint; crack through neck; lightly hit by shot. Provenance: From a home in Charleston, South Carolina. (1,500 - 2,500) 184. Earlier style mallard hen, Robert Elliston, Bureau, Illinois. Original paint with minor wear; small rough area above one speculum; crack through neck; chip missing from one side of bill; weight is missing; tiny chip miss80 188 Detail 187 ing from one eye. (1,400 - 1,800) 185. Pair of mammoth mallards, Walter “Tube” Dawson, Putnam, Illinois. Original paint with minor wear on hen, moderate wear on drake; thin crack in drake’s neck. (1,500 - 2,500) 186. Mallard hen, Bert Graves, Peoria, Illinois. Retains Graves weight. Original paint that has darkened with age; old touchup on white areas of speculums; slight roughness to edge of bill; small chip missing from center of tail. (1,500 - 2,500) 187. Mallard hen and drake, Otto Garren, Canton, Illinois. Original paint with very minor wear on drake; thin crack in drake’s neck; hen has original paint with moderate wear and minor roughness to edges of bill. (1,250 - 1,750) 188. Fine pintail drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois, circa 1930s. Very good feather paint detail. Original paint by Edna Perdew, with minor wear protected by an old coat of varnish; hairline crack through neck. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Harold Haertel, Dundee, Illinois. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid, p. 80. (15,000 - 20,000) 81 Charlie Perdew in his shop 189 This exact decoy, along with three drakes and one hen, were owned by John Linquist of Spring Valley, Illinois. In the early 70s, Joe Tonelli approached the owner and asked if he could take them to a decoy show to try to sell them for Mr. Linquist. He agreed. So, when Joe picked up the decoys to take to the show, he discovered that Linquist had carved an “X” under the bill of all four. “Why?” Joe asked. “Simple,” Linquist responded. “If you don’t sell them at the show, I will know that you brought back my decoys and not someone else’s.” 189. Superb mallard drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois, circa 1920s. Retains the early “pencil” weight. Small “x” carved under the bill. One of Perdew’s most desirable models. Fine original paint by Edna Perdew with intricate detail; paint is protected by an early and mellowed coat of varnish; structurally excellent. Provenance: Formerly in the David Gallagher collection, Joe Tonelli collection, and Richard Wren collection. Literature: “Decoys of Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid, p. 81. 82 (20,000 - 25,000) 189 Detail 192 Detail 190 192 191 190 Detail 190. 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. 154, plate 112. (4,500 - 5,500) 191. Very rare greenwing teal drake, Robert Elliston, Bureau, Illinois. Retains Elliston weight. Original paint with minor wear; traces of black overpaint; minor roughness to edges of bill with touchup in that area. (4,000 - 6,000) 84 192. Very rare greenwing teal drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. From the Weeks Rig, Bureau, Illinois. A letter accompanying this lot, from Bob Week’s son, details the history of how his father acquired the famous Weeks rig Perdew teal. Original paint with minor wear; moderate wear on one side; structurally good. Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway” Alan Haid, p. 82. (14,000 - 18,000) 192 Detail 85 193 194 195 199. Extremely rare Standard drop and chilled shot display. Bailey, Farrell and Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. WJ Morgan and Company lithographs, Cleveland Ohio. Scene in center with hunter and dogs. 24 shot samples displayed in an oval around the seam, in what appears to be its original frame. Frame size 15” x 12 1/2”. Shot holes and tiny tears near samples; minor discoloration at edges. Provenance: O’Key collection. Formerly in the collection of John Delph. (8,000 - 12,000) 199 199 Detail 196 197 193.Winchester Repeating Shotguns poster with dogs. Professional matted and framed. Retains bands; a few small folds, otherwise very good. Provenance: Formerly in the Gene Konopasek collection. (1,000 - 1,400) 198 light edge wear; seam split on side panel and one tear on opposite side panel with piece missing. Provenance: Powell collection. (500 - 800) 194. Winchester Self Loading Shotguns poster. Small folds; tiny tear just below top left corner; no bands. 197. Shotgun shell box, Robin Hood Powder Company, Swanton, Vermont. 12 gauge. A few rubs at edges; small crease on right side of front label and on side label where shell description is. Provenance: Formerly in the Gene Konopasek collection. (1,000 - 1,400) 195. 1925 Remington Arms calendar, showing duck hunter in boat. October 1925 page stapled to bottom edge. Tear and folds near top; no bands are visible. (500 - 800) 196. Rare Robin Hood Eclipse shotgun shell box. 12 gauge number 4. Full wrap label with slight discoloration and 86 Provenance: Powell collection. 200. Anheuser Busch advertising sign. Entitled “Custer’s Last Fight”. In original frame, approximately 35” x 45”. Original with minor discoloration. Provenance: Purchased by the consignor in southern Ohio in the 1960s. (1,250 - 1,750) (500 - 800) 198. Full wrap label. With slight discoloration and light edge wear; seam split on side panel and one tear on opposite side panel with piece missing. 12 gauge number 5 shot. Full wrap label with piece missing from left side on top label; seam split top left. Provenance: Lucas collection. (500 - 800) 200 87 201 202 203 204 206 206 Detail 206. Small vintage replica of a flintlock Kentucky rifle. Approximately 16” long. Very good detail. Very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection. (600 - 900) 205 207 208 205A 209 201. ”They Are Hitters” Winchester poster. Image of three mallards taking flight. Bands have been trimmed. Professionally framed. A few small wrinkles at top right, otherwise good. (400 - 600) 202. Peters big game ammunition poster. Image of bugling elk with artwork by Richard Goodwin. And is approximately 19 1/2” x 30”. Professionally framed and mounted. Retains both bands. (2,500 - 3,500) 203. US Capital Cartridge Company shot powder hanging display. “The Black Shells.” Appears to be original frame and glass. Some imperfections and paint loss behind glass. Original and good. (800 - 1,000) 88 204. 36 pinbacks and one hat pin. Mostly ammunition related. Including Peters, Winchester, DuPont, Remington, and Iver Johnson, and others. Good. (350 - 450) 205. Approximately 42” long canvas over wood canoe model, 1st quarter 20th century. Good detail. Very good and original. (2,000 - 2,500) 205A.Hand carved pipe, probably a tourist item made by the seminal Indians in the southeast, last quarter 19th century. 10” long. On stem is an alligator that is chasing a black man, hiding on the other side of the bowl. Man has glass eyes and possibly ivory teeth. Both hands and one foot are missing from man; paint rub at one ear.(500 - 700) 207. Fabulous Live Pigeon Release Box. Eastern Pennsylvania circa 1850. Pennsylvania/German designed tool, this wonderful carved wooden box was used for the popular sport of trap shooting during the mid-19th century. The pigeon roosts inside, and rod hinges allow the box’s sides to fall open when a metal pin is removed via a long rope, causing the captive bird to take flight. Applied wooden designs nailed on with round-headed, handmade studs reflect recognizable Pennsylvania/German folk imagery. Original paint in brown, red, and green. Size 19” x 9” x5”. Very early original paint that has crazed and worn; surface is grungy and dirty, but very desirable. Literature: Cleveland State University Art Gallery, Cleveland OH. New World Folk Art: Old World Survivals and Cross- Cultural Inspirations 1492-1992. Exhibit and Catalog p. 24. (1,200 - 1,500) 208. Flying mallard whirligig, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2nd quarter 20th century. Detailed feather carving. Original paint protected by an old coat of varnish with significant shrinkage; reglued crack in each wing. Provenance: Arizona State University Museum. Formerly in the collection of Hope and George Wick. (800 - 1,200) 209. Contemporary canoe model made by and signed Little Bear. Two wicker seats and wicker construction. Measures 57” long; contains two paddles and two hangers for a wall mount. Excellent. (800 - 1,200) 89 New York State Stevens Brothers Weedsport, New York 210 Detail 210. Exceptional rigmate pair of bluebills, Stevens Brothers, Weedsport, New York, last quarter 19th century. Both have “GW Stevens Standard Decoys” stencil on underside. First place winners at the Ohio Decoy contest Westlake, Ohio, 2006. Blue ribbon is included. Very bold feather paint detail with combing on drake’s back. Small amount of touchup at edges of knot at one side of drake’s tail. Literature: “Stevens Brothers,” Peggy and Dr. Peter Muller, p. 248. “Stevens Decoys,” Shane Newell, p. 73. (25,000 - 35,000) From the introduction of “The Stevens Brothers” by Dr. Peter J. Muller & Peggy Lane Muller. Some states have claimed at least one great 19th-century maker of duck decoys. In Massachusetts there was Elmer Crowell and in New Jersey, Harry V. Shourds. Albert David Lange of Connecticut, Nathan Cobb, Jr. of Virginia and Robert Elliston of Illinois were others. Until now, New York has not laid claim to such a great 19th-century carver, but without question Stevens’ Brothers have earned that title. The Stevens decoys were created over a century ago, all handmade throughout. In the past, Stevens decoys have often been placed or cataloged among the factory decoys, compared with those made by Peterson, Dodge and Mason. Yet Stevens’ decoys were individually handmade, just as where those by the great 19th-century carvers listed above. Perhaps Harvey’s unique method of making these decoys, advertising in periodicals a “manufacturer” of duck decoys, led to this misclassification. The hunters who bought Stevens’ decoys no doubt felt their rigs had been individually made for them and few other available decoys could compare. In reality this is true, because no two Stevens decoys are exactly alike, since they were handmade “throughout,” made in a, “different style,” and finished with only the “best paint.” They were crafted from original patterns from skilled hands. 90 210 Detail 210 91 213 211 213 213 213 213 213 213. Set of six black ducks from upstate New York, circa 1960s. Good feather paint detail. Hollow carved with glass eyes. In various poses, including tip up and feeder. Original paint with very slight wear; structurally very good. (3,500 - 4,500) 212 214. Oversize canvasback drake, Chauncey Wheeler, Alexandria Bay, New York. Balsa body. Good comb paint detail. Original paint with minor wear; dent in one side; numerous tiny dents in balsa; slight separation at body seam; tail has been slightly blunted. (2,000 - 2,500) 211 Detail 211. Black duck, Stevens Brothers, Weedsport, New York, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with minor wear; small surface crack on front side of neck; a few tiny dents. 92 Literature: “Stevens Brothers Decoys,” Peter and Peggy Muller, p. 249. “Stevens Decoys,” Shane Newell, p. 67. (6,000 - 9,000) 214 212 Detail 212. Rare redhead drake, Stevens Brothers, Weedsport, New York, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with good comb detail and minor wear; a few small dents; small chip missing from one side of the tail that has been touched up. (5,000 - 8,000) 215. Mallard drake, Stevens Brothers, Weedsport, New York, circa 1880s. Tack eye model. Strong original paint; two rubs around edge of body and tail and head; one shot scar in body and one in head; professional repair to shot scar on side of head by Russ Allen. (2,000 - 3,000) 215 93 216 216. Root head Canada goose from Long island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Body halves are joined with small dowels. Branded “CR Purdey”. Appealing in use repaint; filled seam separation in one side; chip missing from back of neck base with touchup in that area; touchup on much of the head; structural work on face and filler added to seam speraration on both sides. (2,500 - 3,500) 217. Rare working brant, Roy Conklin, Alexandria Bay, New York. Slightly turned head. Original paint with very minor discoloration and wear; structurally good. Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Linda and Gene Kangas, p. 162. (1,750 - 2,250) 217 220 218. 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. (1,000 - 1,500) 218 219.Two “humpback” style redhead drakes, Stevens brothers, Weedsport, New York, last quarter 19th century. Paint has been restored in its original style; filler added to necks; hen has a replaced eye. (1,500 - 2,250) 219 94 220A 220. Very rare pintail drake, William Bowman, Lawrence, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Believed by some to have been made by Charles Sumner Bunn. Hollow carved, with inlet head. Relief wing carving. Old in use repaint; a few small dents; brand has been carved out of the underside. 220A.Goldeneye hen, Chauncey Wheeler, Alexandria Bay, New York. Original piant, minor wear; small dents and shot marks; hairline cracks in bill with old touchup on bill. (1,500 - 2,500) Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangs, p. 203, exact decoy. (2,500 - 3,500) 95 221 222 223 224 225 221. Swimming black duck from Long Island, New York, 1st quarter 20th century. Very wide, flat body that is hollow. Body is covered with seaweed held in with old fish net. Some of the seaweed is missing, otherwise original and good. Provenance: Arizona State University Museum. Formerly in the collection of Hope and George Wick. (1,000 - 1,500) 222. Redhead hen, Gus Rogers, Alexandria Bay, New York. “W.B.D.” stamped in underside. Original paint with minor wear; old touchup on bill and underside; small nail holes and neck base; lightly hit by shot. (1,000 - 1,500) 223. Merganser hen, Long Island, New York, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with very minor wear; small crack in head. 96 Provenance: Formerly in the Robert Gerard collection. His notes on the underside read, that it was from an old cider mill in South Setauket. (800 - 1,200) 226 224. Bluebill drake, Verity Family, Seaford, Long Island, New York, 3rd quarter 19th century. Carved eyes and wide neck seat. “RP” carved in underside. Old in use repaint on part of the black areas; the rest is original with moderate wear; small dents and shot marks; thin crack in underside. (1,000 - 1,500) 225. Bluebill hen from Alexandria Bay, New York. Two piece body construction. Original paint with minor wear; shot scar on back a few small dents. Literature: “Decoys of the Thousand Islands,” Larry Lunman p. 226, rigmate. (650 - 950) 226. Black duck, Julius Middlesteadt, Rochester, New York. Original paint with minor shrinkage on lower sides and underside; small dent in one edge of tail; with minor paint loss in that area; never rigged. Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 159. (650 - 950) 227 228 229 230 231 232 227. Redhead hen in rare swimming pose, Frank Coombs, Alexandria Bay, New York. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents and shot marks. (800 - 1,200) 228. Canvasback, Seymour Smith, Seneca Lake, New York. “S” brand in underside. Old in use repaint; small dents and cracks. (400 - 600) 229. Merganser hen from upstate New York, 1st quarter 20th century. “LP” carved in the underside. Original paint with minor wear; professional bill repair; small cracks in underside. (450 - 650) 230. Mallard hen and drake, Ken Harris, Woodville, New York. Harris stamp on underside of hen. Tip of hen’s bill 233 has been slightly blunted, otherwise original and good. Provenance: Nerwin collection. (450 - 750) 231. Wood duck drake, Ken Harris, Woodville, New York. Harris stamp on underside. Very good and original. (400 - 600) 232. Bluebill drake from western New York state. Slightly turned head. Original paint with moderate shrinkage on body; small separations at knot in underside; minor wear. (400 - 600) 233. Black duck, David Kavanaugh, Alexandria Bay, New York. Incised wing carving. Old paint with minor wear; very minor roughness to tail. (350 - 450) 97 Factory Decoys 237 234 235 236 234. Lesser yellowlegs, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Tack eye model, circa 1900. In spring plumage. McCleery base is included. Original paint with very slight wear; minor discoloration on breast; small dent in one side. Provenance: Formerly in collection of Dr. James McCleery, lot 138 in Guyette & Shmidt, Inc./Sotheby’s January 2000 auction. 235. Black bellied plover, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Tack eye model. Original paint with minor wear; hit by shot; small chip missing near stick hole. Provenance: Dyke collection. (800 - 1,200) 236. Dove with glass eyes, Mason Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally good. (1,500 - 2,000) Literature: “Mason Decoys,” Russ Goldberger and Alan Haid, p. 102, exact decoy. (3,000 - 4,000) 238 236A.Very rare widgeon hen, Peterson Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, last quarter 19th century. Original paint with minor wear; chip missing from underside of bill; tiny chip missing from top of tail. Literature: “Detroit Decoy Dynasty,” Ron Sharp and Bill Dodge, p. 22. (2,500 - 3,500) 236A 98 237. Exceptional pair of unrigged redheads, Evans Decoy Factory, Ladysmith, Wisconsin, circa 1930s. Both have the Evans ink stamp and a small “E” on the underside. Exceptionally strong original paint with a few small rubs; both have paint shrinkage at neck seams. 238. Exceptional pair of bluewing teal, Hays Decoy Factory, Jefferson City, Missouri. Drake has Roger Ludwig’s brass name tag on the underside. Near mint original paint; hairline crack in underside of hen and in lower side of drake. Literature: “North American Factory Decoys,” Ken Trayer, p. 136. (4,000 - 5,000) Literature: “North American Factory Decoys,” Ken Trayer, p. 192. (2,750 - 3,250) 99 239 (3 of 8 pictured) 240 241 244 245 242 243 246 247 239. Set of eight collapsible wood and tin decoys. 6 mallards and 2 geese. All are numbered and have swing weights. Also included are a few tin patterns. Original and good. Provenance: Arizona State University Museum. Formerly in the collection of Hope and George Wick. (1,000 - 1,600) 240. Rare Canada goose, Dodge Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1880s. Old in use repaint; age split in underside; thin cracks in body and bill. (650 - 950) 241. Very early and rare handmade highneck Pintail hen by Jasper Dodge (1829-1909). A rare and elegant “prefactory” decoy by Dodge circa 1880. The decoy is a combination of original and century old working paint. This decoy was likely used at one of the early gunning clubs in northwestern Ohio. Mostly original paint that has crazed with numerous 100 shot marks and rough spots worn to bare wood; neck has been reset; paint has been added at neck and repair to tail. (600 - 800) 242. Duplicating mold made of rock maple, possibly used at the Dodge Factory, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1900. Brass plate is attached with 11 screws in underside of bill. Metal reinforcement along edge of bill carving around face. Bottom of neck and neck seat at body indicating that it was used on a duplicating mold. Protected by an old coat of varnish. (800 - 1,200) 243. Pair of mallards, Herter’s Factory, Waseca, Minnesota. Perfect model. Original paint with minor wear; professional repair to a chip missing from the underside of hen’s bill with touchup on the whole bill. Provenance: O’Key collection. 244. Very rare owl and crow set, Herter’s Decoy Factory, Waseca, Minnesota. Original paint with minor denting and shot marks; several small chips missing from wood above owl’s eyes, with touchup in that area; iron base included. Literature: “North American Factory Decoys,” Ken Trayer, p. 203. (2,000 - 3,000) 245. Great horned owl, Herter’s Factory, Waseca, Minnesota, circa 1940. “True to Life” model. Wool stuffed cloth. Perched on a wooden base. 19” tall. Glass eyes and bear claw beak. Area of light staining on breast and rub near one eye, otherwise very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 246. Reynolds Factory silhouettes. With original box and stenciled Illinois River folding duck decoys. Contains five trifold sets. Each with Reynolds patent stamp. Two sets of mallards, one redhead, and one black duck. Very good. (800 - 1,200) 247. Rare pair of “Monroe Marsh” model bluebills, Dodge Decoy Factory, Detroit, Michigan, last quarter 19th century. “Super grade” version. Original paint with good detail and minor wear; neck filler has been professionally replaced; small chips missing from one side of hen’s tail; small dents and shot marks; hole drilled in underside of hen for circular inset weight. (2,000 - 3,000) (650 - 950) 101 Fish Decoys 248 249 250 251 255A 252 253 255A.Rare sunfish plaque, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 11 1/2” long. Excellent and original. 254 248. Brook Trout fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. 8” long with tack eye. Original paint covered with a coat of varnish; small amount of paint missing from fins. Provenance: One of a complete set of four recently found in a garage in Michigan. (1,500 - 2,000) 249. Fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan, circa 1930. Shiner. 8” long. Tack eyes. Original paint covered with a coat of varnish; very small areas of paint flaked off side and top fins; small amount of paint missing from lead weights on belly. Provenance: One of a complete set of four recently found in a garage in Michigan. (1,500 - 2,000) 250. Pike, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. 8” long with tack eyes. Original paint covered with a coat of varnish; small amount of paint missing from fins; one small rub near top of back where paint has been worn off. Provenance: One of a complete set of four recently found in a garage in Michigan. (1,500 - 2,000) 251. Perch fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan, circa 1930. Tack eye and 8” long. Paint loss at fins and eyes; small tail chip on underside of tail; original paint 102 255 protected by an old coat of varnish; some areas have darkened and crazed. Literature: “Oscar Peterson Michigan Master Carver,” Ron Fritz, p. 80, exact dec oy. (8,000 - 12,000) 255B.Carved trout plaque, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 12” long. Varnish has shrinkage on plaque; small amount of wear on fish. (4,000 - 6,000) Provenance: One of a complete set of four recently found in a garage in Michigan. (1,500 - 2,000) 255A Detail 252. Pickerel fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 5 1/4” long. Some paint loss on the underside and fins; structurally good. (1,500 - 2,500) 253. Perch fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 6 3/4” long. Original paint with minor flaking on underside; a few paint rubs on top of head. (1,500 - 2,500) 254. Sucker fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 7 1/4” long. Original paint with minor flaking and wear, mostly on metal fins and underside; small amount of old touchup. (900 - 1,200) 255. Large shiner fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 7 3/4” long. Minor paint loss on underside and fins; a few small paint rubs on top. (1,500 - 2,500) 255B 103 255C 256 257 258 259 260 261 255D 262 256. 255E 255C.Carved wooden fish plaque, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 14” long. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; hairline crack in one side of platter. (4,000 - 6,000) 255D. Musky spear fishing spear, owned and used by Hans Janner, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, circa 1930. A telescoping mechanizing to extend the length of the spear. Heavy lead in front to secure spear tine, of which there are nine. Length of tines is 11”. Provenance: Obtained by Roberta Holcomb from Hank Hennings, a friend of Hans Janner. (800 - 1,200) 255E.Wooden carved sperm whale, Wyck Ahrens. Approximately 31” long and signed. Original and good. (950 - 1,250) 104 264 263 Heddon fishing lure, Dowagiac, Michigan. Black sucker minnow. Glass eyes. Cup rig, Heddon Dowagiac embossed on propeller. Four belly weights. Very light crazing, mostly on underside; a few small areas where varnish has worn off of underside; hook scratch near top of back; otherwise very good and original. (1,800 - 2,200) 255F. Painted wooden box with lock. Maroon with stenciling and “Lures” on front and “ERO” on top. Reportedly was used for holding Chautauqua Lake fish decoys and was found near Chautauqua Lake. Edge wear; dents and rubs to original paint surface. (700 - 1,000) Literature: George Aho of Rapid City, Michigan. Fish Decoys. Net. “Geo. Aho Carver of Spear Fishing Decoys,” Hunting & Fishing Collectibles Mag, pp. 21-23. Nov./Dec. 2006. Hooked on Wood, the Allure of the Fish Decoy, the Center for Art in Wood, Philadelphia, May-July 2012.Suuri Keräilykirja - Big Book of Collectibles by Ilkka Jukarainen, Finland 2015. (800 - 1,200) 257. Carved small mouth bass, John Hyatt, Pekin, Illinois. On wooden plaque. Approximately 20”. Good carving detail. Very good and original. 262. A large and folky fish decoy from Michigan. 16” long tack eyes and metal fins. Original white paint. Provenance: O’Key collection. (1,500 - 2,250) 258. Brown trout, Mike Borrett. Signed by maker on back and 2009. Excellent and original. (400 - 600) 255F 259. Rainbow trout, Mike Borrett. Signed by maker on back and 2008. Excellent and original. (400 - 600) 260. A matched set of perch wall plaques, Isaac Goulette, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, circa 1950. Both are 12” long, have metal fins and tack eyes. Original paint; one has area of tail fin that has been reglued. (1,200 - 1,500) 261. Muskie by George John Aho (1911-1994), Rapid City, Michigan. 30 inches long. Aho’s label on bottom. Original paint; a few small dents; otherwise very good and original. Provenance: Formerly in the Roberta Holcomb collection. (800 - 1,200) 263. Trout fish decoy, Oscar Peterson, Cadillac, Michigan. Approximately 8” long. Included is a copy of “Oscar Peterson Michigan’s Master Carver,” by Ron Fritz. Old touchup on underside of weights, fins, and bottom portion of tail. Provenance: Nerwin collection. (650 - 950) 264. Carved wooden perch plaque, Albert Mitchell, Maine. Signed. Approximately 18” long. Good carving detail on fins. Original paint with minor to moderate shrinkage; structurally good. (400 - 600) 105 Canada 265 266 272 267 269 268 270 265. Canvasback drake, Duncan Ducharme, Manitoba, Canada. Keel has been removed, otherwise very good and original. (1,500 - 2,000) 266. Rare bluebill hen, Duncan Ducharme, Manitoba, Canada. Ducharme ink stamp on underside. Also initials “MHL”. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; structurally good. (1,500 - 2,500) 267. Canvasback drake, Charles Reeves, Long Point, Ontario. Canvas covered secured by brass nails on underside. Stenciled “HBJ”. Original paint, much of which is heavily worn on body; three shot marks, including one scar at top of head; a few chips and rubs exposing bare wood. (800 - 1,200) 268.Pair of heavily carved bluebills from Quebec. Hollow. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; some old touchup; a few small dents. (1,200 - 1,500) 106 273 271 269. Hollow carved bluebill hen, Charles Fornier, St. Flavie, Quebec. Decoy exhibits raised carved wingtips and fluted tail and is carved to simulate bill buried in feathers on back. The only sleeper by Fornier that we have seen. Original paint with very minor wear; seam through head has separated slightly; very small amount of touchup to two small cracks at inside of wingtips. (750 - 1,250) 270. Goldeneye hen from a member of the Paquette Family, Valleyfield, Quebec. Highly detailed feather carving. Repaint on underside; the rest is original with minor wear; a few small dents. (300 - 500) 272 Detail 273 Detail 271. Feeding snow goose, André Broussard, St. Andre de la Calle, Quebec. Original paint with moderate wear; numerous small cracks and dents. 272. Rare canvasback hen, Orel LeBeouf, St. Anicet, Quebec. “OL” stamped in underside twice. Good feather carving detail on wings and tail. Subtle combing on back and sides. Original paint with minor wear; a few tiny dents; very small bill chip repair. 273. Exceptional example of a goldeneye drake, Orel LeBouff, St. Anicet, Quebec. Highly detailed and elaborately carved primaries and secondaries. Fluted tail and extra fine feather paint detail in center of back. Near mint original paint with good patina; structurally good. Provenance: O’Key collection. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Frank Ash, his brass tack with the number 50 is in the underside. (550 - 850) Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 132. (5,000 - 7,000) Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 128. (3,500 - 4,500) 107 Calls 274 275 276 274. Duck call, James T. Beckhart, Big Lake, Arkansas 1st quarter 20th century. Carved and checkered raised panels. Smooth barrel with copper reed. Stamped “J. T. Beckhart” twice at end of barrel. Very light wear. The original owner of the two Beckhart calls(lots 274 & 275), on the right, after a successful day of turkey hunting, around 1910. Thomas Hinton, 1872-1952, From both Hope and Texarkana, AK. In Texarkana, Mr. Hinton worked for and eventually owned Kominsky and McFaddin, a large cotton company. Mr. Hinton was a charter member of the Hempstead County Hunting Club at Grassy Lake, Arkansas and was secretary of the club until he resigned in 1950. These two calls have been consigned by the family and were the personal calls of Mr. Hinton. 108 277 277 Provenance: From the estate of Thomas J. Hinton. Who was a charter member of the Hempstead County Hunting Club at Grassy Lake located in TFormerly in theas. (6,000 - 8,000) 275. Duck call, James T. Beckhart, Big Lake, Arkansas, 1st quarter 20th century. Carved, checkered, and raised panels. Stamped “JT Beckhart” at end of barrel. Stopper has five carved lines which is unusual for Beckhart. Small chip and wear from use near mouthpiece; structurally very good. (6,000 - 8,000) 276. Very rare checkered panel duck call, James T. Beckhart, Big Lake, Arkansas. Stamped “James T Beckhart” at top of barrel twice. Four panels are finely checkered. Wear around mouthpiece, otherwise very good. (8,000 - 10,000) 277. Extremely rare duck call, John E. “Sundown” Cochran, Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, circa 1920. Three raised checkered panels. “Made by J.E. Cochran, Hornbeak, Tenn”, “Reelfoot Lake” and “$5.00” stamped in sides between checkering. Only about 10 examples like this are known, it is made in the style of a Victor Glodo. Original with light wear. Provenance: Sold at a Guyette & Deeter, Inc. April 2012 auction. (12,000 - 14,000) 109 H.A. Mansker 278 280 279 Not long ago, a potential consignor from Oklahoma contacted us and described a group of items that had been sold as made by an unkown maker, and had been in his family for over four generations. The duck calls and decoys, now known to be made 281 281 by H.A. Mansker, have always been sold as unknown maker. However, now with the consignment of the miniature carvings, working duck decoys, and the calls that Mansker promoted in his turn of the century promotional sales pamphlet, another mystery maker has been identified. 277 East St. Louis, Illinois was an important destination for waterfowl at the turn of the 19th century. The confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and the Horse Shoe Lake area were teaming with both Canada Geese and a variety of ducks. H. A. 281 281 Mansker called this area home and listed his accomplishments as “A Market Hunter and Trapper in the 80s and 90s.” 277A 110 277A. A group of items by H.A., Mansker. Includes pair of miniature mallards, 1st quarter 20th century East St. Louis, Illinois. Raised and split tails. 7 1/2” long. Original paint, both with heads that have been reglued; chips to both tails; and piece of bill missing from hen; other minor rubs. A book “Just Fishing” volume one, Ray Bergman. With plates painted by Dr. Edgar burke. Signed March 1941 with inscription from Mansker. A two page advertising pamphlet by HA Mansker with information about his duck calls and decoys an original. (800 - 1,000) 278. Two duck calls, H.A. Mansker, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1st quarter 20th century. One has octagonal barrel with two wire supports. Octagonal stopper with single wire support, and German silver reed. Second is bakelight or early plastic barrel and inscribed on sides of barrel “Big Lake” and “Silver Reed”. Stopper is octagonal shape. One has barrel cracked the entire length on one side. Imperfections in wood and wear around mouthpiece. (1,200 - 1,500) 279. Duck call, H.A. Mansker, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1st quarter 20th century. Octagonal barrel with slightly shaped stopper. Single copper wire wrapped on top of barrel with eye hook for lanyard tie. 6$ is written on barrel. German silver reed. Protected by an old coat of varnish. (800 - 1,200) 280. Duck call, H.A. Mansker, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1st quarter 20th century. Large barrel with octagonal shape. Two copper wires wrapped around barrel for support. Carved octagonal stopper with German silver reed. Protected by an old coat of varnish. (800 - 1,000) 281. Four duck decoys, H.A. Mansker, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1st quarter 20th century. All are hollow. Three mallard hens and one widgeon drake. One with tack eyes, the rest have glass eyes. All have raised tail carving. One hen is in a swimming pose. All are in mostly original paint with touchup to sides and other areas; neck cracks and tail chips. (800 - 1,200) 111 282 287 283 288 283A 284 289 290 282. Duck call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. St. Francis VL&A style, carved and checkered. Unused; near mint. Provenance: Formerly in the Preston collection. Literature: “Duck Calls”, Howard Harlan and Crew Anderson, p. 87. (1,000 - 1,500) 283. Rare early crow call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Original and good. Provenance: Clark collection. Literature: “Charles Perdew,” Ann Tandy Lacey, p. 60. (750 - 1,000) 283A.Rare Herter’s Factory duck call with metal band, Waseca, Minnesota. Metal band is lightly tarnished; barrel has a few light scuff marks and scratches from use; structurally good. (500 - 700) 284. Duck call with carved mallards and initials “MW” relief carved in barrel, Hadden Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Notched stopper. Very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection. (600 - 900) 285. Early walnut duck call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Original and good. Provenance: Clark collection. (500 - 800) 286. Two red cedar duck calls, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Several small dents in one mouthpiece; otherwise good. 112 285 291 Provenance: Clark collection. 286 Provenance: Clark collection. Provenance: O’Key collection. (900 - 1,200) (900 - 1,200) 289. VL&A style duck call, Hadden Perdew, Henry, Illinois. The initials “JH” are carved into one panel. Very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection. (450 - 650) 290.Carved crow call, Hadden Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Relief carved tree with two crows in a nest and owl on other side. Very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection. 291. Early duck call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Stamped “Chas. H. Perdew & Co.” 5” long. Original and good. Provenance: Clark collection. (400 - 600) (400 - 600) 292. Duck call, Hadden Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Original and good. Provenance: O’Key collection. 295 296 297 298 299 300 (500 - 800) 288. Tear drop style walnut duck call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Carved for VL&A sporting goods store. VL&A carved in one tear drop section. A few small dents, otherwise original and good. 294 292 287. Duck call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. VL&A model with tear drop panels. “CEJ” is carved in one panel. Original and good. 293 (300 - 400) 293. Duck call, John “Sandy” Morrow, Flint, Michigan, circa 1940s. Carved and raised panels with square stopper. And exaggerated silver dollar at top of barrel. Gun sight stopper with brass reed. Very good and original with very light wear. (1,800 - 2,200) 294. Duck call, John “Sandy” Morrow, Flint, Michigan, circa 1940s. Four checkered panels with a mahogany barrel. And multi tone cedar stopper. With German silver reed. Very slight crack at stopper to one side, otherwise very good and original. (2,250 - 2,750) 295. Very early duck call, James T. Beckhart, Big Lake, Arkansas, circa 1900. Four raised and checkered panels. Early model with no stamp at end of barrel and well executed silver dollar ring. Wedge block appears to be replaced, as stopper does not fit properly; small break to one side of collar; two dents on one checkered panel; light wear on most of barrel. (4,000 - 5,000) 296. Carved duck call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. One landing mallard and two flying mallards with glass eyes. Carved initials “BFI”. Amber mouthpiece. Slight wear to painted ducks; one eye is missing from landing duck, otherwise excellent condition. Provenance: Formerly in the-Don Clark Collection. (3,000 - 5,000) 297. Call with carved mallards, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. The initials “HGP” are also carved in the barrel. Red mouthpiece. Several small thin chips missing from stopper, otherwise very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection.(2,500 - 3,500) 298. Duck call, John “Sandy” Morrow, Flint Michigan, circa 1940. Carved cedar call with four raised panels that are not checkered. German silver reed. Pictured in Brian McGrath’s book on calls. Very good and original. Provenance: This call was made for Mr. Orvel Day, a grocery store owner in Flint, Michigan. His store was only a few blocks from Mr. Morrow’s home. Morrow and Day were said to be friends and hunted together. (2,000 - 2,500) 299. Fancy carved tear drop carved walnut duck call, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Carved for VL & A sporting good store and VL & A is carved in plaque form on one side. Original and good. Provenance: O’Key collection. (2,000 - 3,000) 300. Crow call, Hadden Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Carved tree with three crows, a nest with eggs, and a owl carved on barrel. Mint; missing reed. (2,500 - 3,500) 113 307 301 302 304 303 305 301. Two duck calls, Hadden Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Original and good. Provenance: O’Key collection. (500 - 800) 302. Two crow calls, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Original and good. Provenance: Clark collection. (350 - 450) 303. Two crow calls, one by Hadden Perdew and one by Charles Perdew. Very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection. (300 - 400) 303A.Two duck calls with raised ducks and geese. Initials “MP”. Very good. 114 Provenance: O’Key collection. (150 - 200) 303A 306 304. Rare duck call, George “Skippy” Barto, Fairmont, Illinois. Cedar call with cedar stopper. Two hairline cracks or wood imperfections in barrel; wedge block, stopper and reed may be a replacement. (800 - 1,200) 305. Extremely rare Herter’s factory crow call, Waseca, Minnesota. With metal band on barrel. Minor scratches to both barrel and metal tag and mouthpiece; from light wear. (1,200 - 1,500) 306. Early A.M. Boles duck call, Little Rock, Arkansas, circa 1940. Raised high shoulders that are individually checkered. Stamped “A.M. Boles, Little Rock, Arkansas” at top of barrel. Arkansas style stopper. Black plastic reed. Appears to be original; structurally very good. (1,200 - 1,500) 307. Duck call, Kinney & Harlow, Newark, Ohio, 1900. The barrel of the call is made to imitate a hen mallard’s head with the insert being shaped like a shot shell. With the exception of the brass portion, the call is covered with leather stained to the correct colors of a hen mallard. On the top of the brass is cold stamped, “MFD. BY KINNEY & HARLOW, NEWARK, OHIO”. Some of the leather on the head was loose and has been professionally secured; areas on the top and bottom of the head where there were thin splits and the leather was missing have been filled in and touched up; the area on the bottom is about 1/2” wide or less, and runs the length of the head; the area on the top is very thin running from the bill notch to the crown; the reed and wedge block are later replacements. 307 Detail Provenance: Guyette & Schmidt, Inc., April 1993, exact call before restoration; and April 2010 exact call. Literature: “Duck Calls An Enduring American Folk Art”, Howard L. Harlan and W. Crew Anderson, pp. 51-52. (6,000 - 8,000) 308. Duck call, Hadden Perdew, Henry, Illinois. “MBT” initials carved in barrel, along with three flying ducks. Clear mouthpiece C.H. Perdew, Henry Illinois and 88 stamped at end of barrel. Near mint. (1,800 - 2,200) 308 115 Michigan 309 311 310 309 Detail 309. Very rare widgeon drake, Nate Quillen, Rockwood, Michigan, last quarter 19th century. Inlet head and carved eyes. Branded “JCM” for JC Morse, a Pointe Mouillee club member. Original paint with moderate shrinkage and wear; thin crack through neck; lightly hit by shot. Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 278, exact decoy. (6,500 - 9,500) 310. Hollow carved greenwing teal hen, William Finkle, Lake St. Clair, Michigan. “AJR” is branded in the underside. Good scratch paint detail. Very good and original. (4,500 - 6,500) 116 At the turn of the twentieth century, the Schweikarts were running a number of successful businesses, which included an ice company, a commercial fishing venture, and a tavern. During this period of prosperity, Walter, Sr. began to search for a remote retreat where he and his sons could escape the city for some fine hunting. He claimed a tiny island in the Flats and called it Strawberry. Thirteen years after his father’s death in 1904, John took ownership of this hunters’ paradise for himself. As a young man John Schweikart worked his way up in all of the family businesses. He is listed in the 1904 Detroit city directory as president of the Schweikart Boat Works. Working with his brother Carl, a master boat builder, John had learned how to work with his hands and continued the family tradition of respect for craftsmanship and pride of workmanship. 311 Detail 311. Very rare rigmate pair of goldeneye, John Schweikart, Strawberry Island, Michigan. Both are slightly oversized and hollow carved with bottom board. Hen’s head is slightly rested pose, drake is more upright. Strong feather blending on breast of hen. Both in original paint; drake has small rubs on body and head, and line tie marks across back and sides; hen has a few small rubs on head. (12,000 - 15,000) 117 For years, auction houses and collectors have understood that this rig of Bach canvasbacks was slightly different than some of the others, which are also identified as his “classic period.” The paint seems more dense or thicker. The obvious question was, had Bach repainted them? To solve the mystery, we sent this decoy to the lab at Winterthur for a paint core sample test. The results conclude that it is in fact all original and all painted at the same time, there are a few layers of primer but they are all done “in the making,” not at some later date, say after a hunting season. 312 313 314 315 318 318 Detail 316 317 312. Canvasback drake, George Sibley, Whitehall, Michigan. Slightly turned head. Original paint with moderate wear; one eye is a professional replacement; small cracks. (1,500 - 2,000) 313. Mallard hen, George Sibley, Whitehall, Michigan, circa 1900. Slightly turned head with inserted hardwood bill. Original paint with minor wear; cracks through neck base. (1,500 - 2,000) 314. Hollow carved canvasback, Nick Purdo, Detroit, Michigan. Second place winner at the International Decoy Contest, Davenport, Iowa, 1968. Contest label on underside. Detailed wingtip and tail carving. Slightly turned head. Very good and original. (950 - 1,250) 315.Rare ruddy duck, Frank Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor wear; small nails added to area on one side that was beginning to split; small amount of touchup near nails. (1,500 - 2,500) 118 317A 316. Miniature pair of swans, Isaac Goulette, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, circa 1940. Made as a gift to the consignor’s mother. Both have raised wingtips with carved separations between the wings. Tack eyes and curved necks. Both are 9” in length and 5 1/2” tall. Original paint that has mellowed; both have neck cracks, one has been reglued and small area of paint missing at that area; a few small stains. (1,250 - 1,750) 317. Lowhead redhead drake, Nate Quillen, Rockwood, Michigan. Helmet style with “GAS” and “TER” branded in underside. Old overpaint has been removed to show traces of original paint; hollow carved with several bb’s inside; moderate wear over entire decoy much of which has bare wood exposed where paint has worn off. (800 - 1,200) 317A. Hollow carved mallard hen, Nate Quillen, Rockwood, Michigan. Inlet head and glass eyes. Branded “JCM” for JC Morse, a Pointe Mouillee club member. Old in use repaint; thin crack through neck; professional bill repair. (800 - 1,200) 318 Detail 318. Canvasback drake, Ferdinand Bach, Detroit, Michigan. Detailed feather carving at wing tips. “F. Bach” carved in underside. Strong original paint with a few small nicks near top of head; touchup to several small paint flakes on bill; area of wood imperfection on underside. (12,000 - 15,000) 119 Wisconsin and Michigan Enoch Reindahl Joseph Sieger 1871 - 1959 Tustin, Wisconsin Stoughton, Wisconsin 321.Hollow carved canvasback drake, Joseph Sieger, Tustin, Wisconsin. Well carved with long neck and arched back. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; small dent in one side; professional repair to a chip in one side of bill by Russ Allen. (8,000 - 12,000) 321 Detail 319 320 319. Extremely rare, one of only four made, Canada goose, Enoch Reindahl, Stoughton, Wisconsin, circa 1940s. Made as a field decoy, the construction is very unusual, featuring tightly sewn denim fabric from the Oshkosh Company of Wisconsin stretched over a wood frame and tacked into place and then stuffed with straw; the head is of finely carved pine and designed with a hinge allowing it to fold down when transporting. Excellent original paint shows little wear and a superb patinaed surface; some slight deterioration to the fabric at the extreme lower breast on one side; a circular patch roughly the size of a silver dollar on the back; overall very good structurally. 120 Literature: “Fish and Fowl of the Great Lakes”, Donna Tonelli, p. 215, exact decoy pictured; Decoy Magazine, Nov/ Dec, 1989, article by Donna Tonelli on Reindahl, pp. 10-15; “Canvas Decoys of North America”, Johnson p. 106-07, exact decoy pictured. (4,000 - 6,000) 320. Blackduck, Enoch Reindahl, Stoughton, Wisconsin. Slightly turned head, carved crossed wingtips and subtle feather paint detail. Reindahl’s name is painted on the underside. Original paint; good patina and minor wear; a few tiny dents. (5,000 - 8,000) 321 121 322. Excellent and early hollow bluebill hen, George Sibley, Whitehall, Michigan, last quarter 19th century. Retains original patent date stamp 1899 and a “L” initial stamped inside a diamond shaped box on the underside. Excellent original paint shows minor wear and a nice patina; small oval shaped area on the underside has a thin second coat of white with the patent date still highly visible; structurally excellent. 322 Literature: “Fish and Fowl Decoys of the Great Lakes,” Donna Tonelli, p. 63. (4,000 - 6,000) 323. Rigmate pair of canvasbacks, George Sibley, Whitehall, Michigan. Both have slightly turned heads with inserted hardwood bills. Hen has “1899 patent applied for” stamp on side. Original piant with moderate wear; small cracks. Literature: “Fish and Fowl of the Great Lakes,” Donna Tonelli, p. 62. (3,500 - 4,500) 324. Rare widgeon hen, Warren Dettman, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Slightly turned head and raised carved primaries and secondaries. Very good and original. Provenance: O’Key collection. 323 325A Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 235. (3,000 - 4,000) 324 325.Bluebill drake, Gus Moak, Tustin, Wisconsin. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor discoloration and wear; a few small dents and shot marks. (2,500 - 3,500) 325A Detail 325A Detail 325A.Very rare hollow carved mallard hen, Warren Dettman, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In content post with raised wingtips. Original paint with minor wear; slight separation at neck seam; a few tiny dents. Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas. (6,000 - 9,000) 325 122 123 After graduating from high school in 1930, Pelzer set his sights on becoming a taxidermist. By 1935 he was fully employed by the Milwaukee Public Museum with a salary paid by the Work Progress Administration. At the museum, he was responsible for creating lifelike dioramas of wildlife. Pelzer had begun making decoys under the guidance of Owen Gromme and Warren Dettmann. His favorite ducks to hunt and eat were mallards and he later explained that this was the reason he never carved a rig of divers. He simply carved ducks for his own use. In an article from 1992 he recounted that around WWII he made a rig of six mallards, six black ducks, a pair of pintails and about four wigeon. This hen is from that rig carved in the early 1940’s. It is also pictured in the article on Walter Pelzer, page 12 of the November/ December issue of Decoy Magazine, written by Tom Bosworth. 326 Detail 325B 325C 325B Detail 325C Detail 326 326. 325B.Redhead drake, Homme Brothers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, circa 1950. Carved crossed wingtips fluted tail and slightly turned head. Comb painting on back and sides. Original paint with minior shrinkage and wear; several tiny dents. 124 Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Dr. James McCleery. McCleery stamp on underside as well as catalog sticker number 116. Obtained by Dr McCleery from David Spengler, Stoughton Wisconsin, 1983. (2,500 - 3,500) 325C.Rare rigmate pair of bluebills, Gus Moak, Tustin, Wisconsin, circa 1930s. Both have slightly turned heads. Original paint with minor wear; mostly on drake; drake has been lightly hit by shot. (6,000 - 9,000) Very rare widgeon drake, Walter Pelzer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Relief wing carving with extended wingtips and slightly turned head. Original paint with minor wear; moderate wear on lower sides; small crack in neck; crack in underside; very lightly hit by shot. (6,500 - 9,500) 326 Detail 125 335. Pair of mallards, Walter Lowry, LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Original paint with fine feather detail; very small chip missing at top of drake’s tail; several small dents in hen’s bill. 327 Provenance: O’Key collection. (4,000 - 6,000) 328 336. Rare ringneck hen, Miles Pirnie, East Lansing, Michigan. “MDP” carved in underside. Very good and original. (1,500 - 2,500) 329 330 337. 331 335 Pair of bluebills, Fritz Geiger, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Both are hollow carved with slightly turned heads. Original paint with minor to moderate wear on drake, moderate on hen; a few small dents. (2,000 - 2,500) 336 332 327. 333 Bluewing teal hen with slightly turned head, Milwaukee Museum School. Feather carving detail. Original paint with very minor wear; hairline surface crack in one side of head. (1,500 - 2,000) 328. Oversize widgeon drake, Roy Discher, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2nd quarter 20th century. Detailed scratch feather painting and carved crossed wingtips. Original paint with minor wear; small dent in one side; bill has been broken off, reattached, and repainted a long time ago. Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 216. (1,000 - 1,400) 329. Lowhead style bluebill, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1900. Hollow carved with bottom board. Similar to others decoys on Harson Island. Nail holes in underside where keel was removed. Multiple layers of old gunning paint in various states of flaking, which exposed bare wood over most body and head; structurally good. (400 - 600) 330.Mallard 126 drake, George Sibley, Whitehall, 337A.Pair of bluebills from Wisconsin. Original paint with moderate shrinkage and wear; black area on drake has old repaint; small dents. (600 - 900) 334 Michigan. Paint has been restored; crack in underside. (350 - 450) 331.Pair of canvasbacks, Pecore Fox, Detroit, Michigan. High head model, circa late 1930s. Original and good. 338. Rigmate pair of oversize bluebills, Frank Strey, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Original paint; minor wear; small cracks and shot marks. (1,250 - 1,750) Literature: “Decoys: A North American Survey,” Gene and Linda Kangas, p. 186. (400 - 600) 337 332. Canvasback, Ben Schmidt, Detroit, Michigan, 2nd quarter 20th century. High head with wingtip carving. Stamped “AL” four times in underside. Even wear over body, otherwise good and original. Provenance: Seitz collection. (400 - 600) 333. Greenwing teal drake, Jim Foote, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1970. Solid body with turned head. Carved wings and primaries. Original and good. (400 - 600) 334. Canvasback drake, Gus Moak, Tustin, Wisconsin. Original paint with moderate wear; old touchup approximately 1” wide encircling the bottom edge at the body seam; fairly large bill chip missing. (650 - 950) 337A 338 127 Louisiana 339. Pair of pintails George Frederick Jr., Davant, Lousiana. Cypress root construction with hen in preening pose. Original paint with very minor wear; structurally good. Literature: “Voices from the Bayou,” Charles Frank, p. 143. (2,000 - 3,000) 339 340. Pair of bluewing teal, Dewey and Tatie Pertuit, Raceland, Lousiana. Incised wing carving. Original paint with slight wear; thin crack in hen’s bill. Literature: “Lousiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 64. (1,000 - 1,400) 343 340 341. Mallard hen, Mitchell LaFrance, New Orleans, Lousiana. Branded “Stott” in underside. Tiny chip missing from one edge of bill otherwise excellent and original. (2,000 - 2,500) 343 Detail 343 Detail 341 342. Pair of mallards, George Frederick, Jr. Davant Lousiana. Cypress root construction with turned heads. Hen is signed. Near mint original paint; structurally very good. Literature: “Voices from the Bayou,” Charles Frank, 143. (2,000 - 3,000) 343. Very rare preening pintail drake, by a member of the Vizier Family, Galliano, Louisiana, 1st quarter 20th century. Raised “V” carved wingtips and slightly lifted tail. Original paint with minor wear; structurally good. Provenance: O’Key collection. Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 97. (12,000 - 15,000) 342 128 129 345 346 347 348 344 344. Very rare pintail drake, Domingo Campo, Shell Beach, Louisiana. Relief wing carving and polished bamboo eyes. Original paint with moderate wear; structurally good. 349 Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 240. “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid, 224. (5,000 - 8,000) 345. Black coot, Amiel Hebert, Houma, Louisiana. Near mint original paint; structurally good. 344A.Mallard hen in preening pose, similar to the work of Antonaise St. Germain, Delacroix Island, Louisiana. This decoy has been on display in several museums including the Huntsville Museum in Alabama and the Jacksonville Museum in Florida. Relief wing carving and good feather paint detail. Original paint with minor flaking and wear; small defect in wood on one side near speculum; another defect in the wood on one side of breast. 130 Provenance: Formerly in the collection of David Galliher. Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 256. (3,000 - 4,000) Literature: “Voices from the Bayou,” Charles Frank, p. 243. (400 - 600) 346.Bluewing teal hen, Xavier Bourg, LaRose, Louisiana. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; crack in neck; neck seat filled with glue a long time ago; some of the filler there is missing; a few small tail chips and a few tiny dents. 344A Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 70. (500 - 800) 347. Pair of bluebills, Laurent Verdin, Bayou Blue, Louisiana. Unused. Near mint original paint on drake; some flaking on lower sides of hen; structurally good. 349 Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 32. (600 - 900) 348. Rare preening mallard hen, Mitchell LaFrance, Charles Frederick, and Charles Joefrau, St. Sophie, Louisiana, circa 1930s. Relief wing carving. Original paint with minor wear on most of the decoy; hit by shot; small chip missing from one side of tail; head is a professional replacement. Literature: “Louisiana Lures and Legends,” Brian Cheramie, p. 182. (800 - 1,200) 349. Two flying wooden geese with metal wings, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, circa 1960s. Weathered surface; small cracks; one has rough area on underside. Provenance: Arizona State University Museum. Formerly in the collection of Hope and George Wick. (1,200 - 1,600) 131 Contemporary 359 350 351 354 357 354. Hollow carved brant decoy, circa 1980s. Signed “M.S. McNair,” but not made by him. Relief wingtip carving. Original paint that has been aged. (400 - 600) 351. Gus Wilson style scoter, Steve Morey, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Hollow carved with inlet head and relief wing carving. Carved eyes and open bill with mussel. Original paint that has been aged; a few small dents. (800 - 1,200) 355. Pair of redheads carved in the style of Elmer Crowell, Marty Collins, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Carved, crossed wingtips, fluted tails and slightly turned heads. Original paint with very minor wear; a few tiny dents. (400 - 600) Provenance: Milne collection. (400 - 600) 353. Bluewing teal drake, Corbin Reed, Cape Charles, Virginia. Tucked feet on sides. Signed “J Corb Reed 83 to Hutch”. Very good and original. 132 Provenance: Milne collection. (400 - 600) 364 366 370 358 350. Reproduction of a red throated loon, Reggie Birch, Chincoteague, Virginia. Signed. Original paint that has been aged; structurally good. (650 - 950) 352. Canvasback drake, Corbin Reed, Cape Charles, Virginia. “Reed” stamp in underside. Relief wing carving with tucked feet. Slight separation at body seam, otherwise very good and original. 363 355 365 356 361 352 362 353 360 356. Brant, Bob White, Tullytown, Pennsylvania. Inset circular weight and tack eyes. Original paint with minor wear; small amount of paint bubbling under tail and on underside; a few small paint rubs. (450 - 550) 357. Standing wood duck, Clarence Fennimore. Signed and stamped on underside of bird. Slightly turned head. Relief wing carving. Very good and original. (350 - 450) 358. Pair of bluebills, Pete Peterson, Cape Charles, Virginia. Signed and dated 1990. Both have inlet heads. Very good and original. (350 - 550) 359. Canvasback drake, Ian and Mark McNair. Signed for Eastern Shore DU 2008. Relief wingtip carving. Very good and original. (600 - 900) 364.Large dove, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Number 90. Also signed on the base. Relief wing carving. Very good and original. (500 - 700) 360. Pair of pintails, Grayson Chesser, Jenkins Bridge, Virginia. Large “C” carved in undersides. Minor paint shrinkage on hen, otherwise very good and original. (350 - 450) 365. Redhead, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Relief wingtip carving and fluted tail. Branded and signed. Very good and original. (400 - 600) 361. Pair of bluebills, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Detailed relief wing carving and fluted tail. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 366. Dove, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Relief wing carving. Very good and original. (350 - 450) 362. Pair of ruddy ducks, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. Incised wingtip carving, rasped surface. (650 - 850) 370. Two decoy weights, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. “Cigar” is stamped in each one. Very good and original. (75 - 100) 363. Pair of buffleheads with tucked heads, Cigar Daisey, Chincoteague, Virginia. Branded and signed. No wingtip carving. Very good and original. (600 - 900) 133 Illinois River 371 376 371. Pintail drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Rare early “deep V body” style. Old repaint; neck crack repair; a few small dents. (750 - 1,000) 372. Sleeping mallard drake, Cline McAlpin, Chicago, Illinois. McAlpin weight on underside. Branded “JHD” for John Dunham. Very good and original. (800 - 1,200) 373. Balsa owl, John Hyatt, Pekin, Illinois, 2nd quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; wear at the end of each horn tuft; chip missing from one that has been glued back in; several dents in back with paint loss. 134 Provenance: O’Key collection. 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 374 375 Provenance: Clark collection. 378 372 373 377 (500 - 800) 374. Mallard hen, Henry Holmes, Bureau, Illinois last quarter 19th century. “OT” brand under tail. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; weight is missing; a few tiny dents. (800 - 1,200) 375. Mallard drake, Hec Whittington Ogelsby, Illinois, circa 1930s. Head is slightly turned and in feeding pose. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; significant paint shrinkage on head; a few tiny dents. (800 - 1,200) 376. Mallard drake, Fred Allen, Monmouth, Illinois, last quarter 19th century. “Burkhard St. Paul” is stamped in the weight. Worn original paint; small shot mark on bill. (800 - 1,200) 377. Greenwing teal drake, Charles Perdew, Henry, Illinois. Original paint with significant shrinkage and minor wear; some areas of touchup; bill is a professional replacement. Provenance: Clark collection. (750 - 1,000) 378. Pintail drake, Jack Swartz, Peoria, Illinois. Original paint with moderate discoloration and wear; a few small dents; crack through neck; repaint on head. sides. Original paint with significant paint shrinkage and minor wear; structurally good. (650 - 850) 382. Rare coot, Otto Garren, Peoria, Illinois. Original paint with very slight wear; professional repair to a thin chip missing from the underside of the bill. (600 - 900) 383. Bluebill hen, William Lohrmann, Peoria, Illinois, 1st quarter 20th century. Good feather detail on breast. Protected by a coat of varnish; possible heat exposure to area around missing weight, which has bubbled some of the surface. (400 - 600) Provenance: Clark collection. 379. Mallard hen, Charles Walker, Princeton, Illinois. Original paint with minor wear on much of the decoy; lower half and speculums have been repainted as well as part of the head; crack through neck and through bill. (650 - 950) 384.Canvasback drake, Robert Elliston, Bureau, Illinois. Paint has been restored in the Elliston style; Elliston weight on underside. (350 - 450) 380. Pintail drake from Lacon, Illinois. Working repaint on white areas and bill, the rest has original paint with moderate discoloration and wear; a few small dents. (650 - 950) 385. Pintail drake, Perry Wilcoxin, Liverpool, Illinois, circa 1900. Original paint with good comb detail and minor wear; long thin chips missing from one side of bill with touchup. (750 - 1,000) 381. Mallard drake, Henry Holmes, Bureau, Illinois, last quarter 19th century. Thick comb painting on back and Literature: “Decoys and Decoy Carvers of Illinois,” Paul Parmalee and Forest Loomis, p. 412. (350 - 550) 135 Ontario 385C. Hollow carved canvasback drake, Ivar Fernlund, Hamilton, Ontario. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; a few small dents and shot marks; some working touchup to part of the bill; thin sliver of wood missing from neck base. Literature: Decoys of Southwest Ontario,” Paul Brisco. (2,500 - 3,000) 385C 385D.Hollow carved black duck, William Chrysler, Bellville, Ontario. Original paint with minor wear; professional bill repair. (2,000 - 2,500) 385A 385D 385B 385B Detail 385A Detail 385E. Redhead hen, George Warin, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Written on underside “J.L. Rhoades” in fancy script. Original paint with traces of feathering on back; tight check at back running through tail; head has separated slightly from body; three shot scars; numerous areas where rubs have exposed bare wood. Provenance: Seitz collection. (1,200 - 1,500) 385E 385A. Classic bluebill drake, Robert Elliston, Bureau, Illinois, circa, 1880s. Fine combing and feather paint detail. Professional repair to a crack through the neck with touchup in that area; a few tiny dents. 385B.Rare greenwing teal hen, Charles Schoenheider, Sr., Peoria, Illinois, 1st quarter 20th century. Original paint with minor wear; numerous small dents in back; roughness to edge of tail. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid. (4,000 - 6,000) Provenance: From the Schoenheider Family. Literature: “Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway,” Alan Haid. (5,000 - 7,000) 136 385F. Rare hollow carved black duck, Fred Croft, Prince Edward County, Ontario. “FC” and “JHL” stamped in underside. Original paint with minor to moderate wear; hit by shot on one side; shot scars on back; shot scar at end of bill. (1,000 - 1,400) 385F 137 386 386. Early pintail drake, George Warin, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Hollow with bottom board. Branded “W.A.A.” for William A. Allen, a member at both St. Clair Flats and Long Point Clubs. At one time this decoy was covered in canvas by a member of the Reeves family. Barney Crandall removed the canvas to expose the original paint patterns. Rough areas on bill have been restored with wood filler; numerous shot marks; old paint that has crazed heavily; in the making repair near one wing patch. 390 391 392 393 394 395 Literature: Decoy Magazine, May 1997, p. 12 exact decoy. (2,000 - 2,500) 387. Hollow carved mallard drake, John R. Wells, Toronto, Ontario. Slightly turned head. Original paint with minor to moderate discoloration and wear; hit by shot on one side; slight roughness to edge of tail; chip missing from one eye. (2,000 - 3,000) 387 388. Redhead hen, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario, 2nd quarter 20th century. Excellent and original. (2,000 - 2,500) 390. Redhead drake, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Branded “F.T. M.” on underside. Fine comb painting with visible wing patches and feathering on sides. Strong original paint; a few small dents and scrapes; one shot mark. (1,800 - 2,500) 388 389. Very rare solid body bluebill hen, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Branded “Thos Chambers Maker” and “J.T. McMillan” on underside. Strong original paint with check running from breast through tail; nine small shot scars; a few small areas of rubs and paint loss on body, neck and back of head. 389 138 Provenance: Seitz collection. (2,000 - 2,500) 391. Hollow carved mallard drake from Ontario. Branded “HNT” and “Meredith”. Both were Long Point Club members. Old working repaint with some original showing; cracks in neck. (1,250 - 1,750) 392. Bluebill drake, Iver Fernland, Hamilton, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow with bottom board. Head is slightly turned. Strong combing on back. Thick original paint; numerous chips on body and head, including several shot marks. (1,500 - 1,800) 393. Black duck, Ed McNeil, Gananaque, Ontario. Solid body with raised neck seat. Painted “BH” brand on underside. Grooved eye carving. Very similar to the work of Chauncey Wheeler. Strong original paint; crack running from the breast to back of tail, appears to have been filled in the making; several other stress fractures running up the back of the neck; a few rubs have exposed bare wood on both body and top of head; slight roughness at edge of tail and end of bill. (1,500 - 1,800) 394. Redhead drake, Tom Chambers, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow body with bottom board. Branded “G. M. Hendrie”, for George Hendrie, St. Clair Flats Shooting Club member 1889 - 1943. Early style with rounder head and sharp cut diamond nostrils. Strong original paint; six shot marks; small area of paint loss on head; wear to body. (1,500 - 2,000) 395. Stylish canvasback drake, James Barr, Hamilton, Ontario. Hollow construction with bottom board. Well carved head and bill. Strong original paint; several shot marks in body and rubs that have exposed primer coat on head and body; some light gunning wear. (1,500 - 2,000) 139 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 396. Large bluebill drake from Eastern Ontario. Relief wing carving with good detail. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents. (500 - 800) 397. Black duck, John R. Wells, Toronto, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. Hollow with bottom board. Scratch painting on head. Subtle wing patch painting on back. Paint is mostly restored, however there are traces of original patterns and paint on body and head; tail chip repair and some filler added at tip of bill. Provenance: Seitz collection. (600 - 800) 398. Very rare bluebill drake, John Reeves, Long Point, Ontario. Classic John Reeves form. Solid body and tack eyes. Original paint on body and head with the exception of strengthening of gray paint on sides; numerous shot marks; slivers of wood missing from underside and side of bill, as well as top of head; several shot scars in body and head; areas of paint loss on body, tail and head. (600 - 800) 399. Pair of bluebills, Reg Bloom, Wellesley Island, Ontario. Both have very slightly turned heads. Near mint original paint; structurally very good. (550 - 850) 400. Two goldeneye from Long Point Bay, Ontario, 1st quarter 20th century. So called “club head” style. Slightly different body style, but same head. Appear to be from same maker. Glass eyes. Mostly original paint; both are worn from heavy use; numerous shot marks; small dents and rubs; crack in neck of drake has been reglued; 140 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 404 area of filler around hen’s neck is missing, and slight separation. Literature: “St. Clair to St. Lawrence,” Barny Crandall, p. 101. (500 - 800) 401. Black duck, Harve Davern, Brighton, Ontario. Copper tag on bottom reads “Albert Grimm, Brackenridge, Pennsylvania.” Strong original paint with comb painting on head; light wear at edge of bill; and tail; flaking on head; small area of flaking on bill. (500 - 700) 402. Black duck, Bill Chandler, Toronto, Ontario. Stamped “Chandler” on underside. Chandler was a member of the Toronto Gun Club in Georgian Bay. Also stamped “Chandler” behind neck, on body. Chip to side of body, approximately the size of a dime; several shot scars; wear at edge of tail; small rough area at underside of tip of bill. Provenance: “Ontario Decoys,” Bernie Gates, p. 52, exact decoy. (400 - 600) 403. Mallard drake from the Toronto area, 1st quarter 20th century. Tack eyes. “JSF” is carved in the underside. Original paint with minor shrinkage and wear; moderate shrinkage on sides of head; a few small dents and shot marks; roughness on one edge of tail. (400 - 600) 404. Solid body redhead from the Toronto area. Worn original paint on body; old touchup on head; hit by shot. (400 - 600) 405. Two decoys, Toronto School, 1st quarter 20th century. Mallard drake similar to Tom chambers, old paint is mostly worn off, hollow carved with bottom board. Redhead hen, similar to work of JR Wells, branded “C.S.H.” in underside. Small amount of original paint left on body, grey on back and bill both appear to be old repaint, hollow carved with bottom board, several shot marks including one that has penetrated through body, rough areas on head and tail; both eyes are missing; considerable wear and a few shot marks. (400 - 600) 406.Bluebill drake, Harve Davern, Brighton, Ontario. Excellent comb painting on back. Copper tag on bottom reads “Albert Grimm, Brackenridge, Pennsylvania.” Slightly turned head. Very good and original; very tiny chip missing from underside of bill. (400 - 600) 407. Pair of bluebills, Gordon Brett, Smith Falls, Ontario. Very good and original. (350 - 450) 408. Early style black duck, Ken Anger, Dunnville, Ontario. Original paint with minor wear; a few small dents; bill crack repair. (350 - 450) 409. Hollow carved black duck with long neck, John R. Wells, Toronto, Ontario, circa 1900. Old in use repaint; lightly hit by shot; fairly large chip missing from underside of bill. Provenance: Shippee collection. (350 - 450) 410. Hollow carved mallard, George Warin, Toronto, Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Old in use repaint; small tail chip missing. Provenance: Shippee collection. (350 - 450) 411. Large hollow carved black duck from Ontario, last quarter 19th century. Slightly turned head. Old in use repaint; small cracks in head and body; a few tiny dents. Provenance: Shippee collection. (350 - 450) 412. Hollow carved bluebill drake from Ontario. Raised neck seat with slightly turned head and tack eyes. Original paint with moderate wear; a few tiny dents. Provenance: Shippee collection. (350 - 450) 413. Black duck, Harve Davern, 2nd quarter 20th century. Scratch painting on head and body. Original paint with touchup at one wing patch; numerous shot scars to body; tail is chipped and damaged; small shot scars to head and body. (300 - 500) End of Session One 141
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