Elmer Crowell decoy big attraction at Guyette & Deeter sale Nov. 9
Rare and important calling green-winged teal drake by Elmer Crowell. From the Cunningham collection. Fine paint detail. Carved crossed wingtips with feather carving detail and fluted tail. Crowell’s oval brand is on the underside. Decoy is also identified on the underside. From the Cunningham collection. Guyette & Deeter image
ST. MICHAELS, Md. – Guyette & Deeter will hold their 31st annual fall decoy auction on Thursday, Nov. 9. The sale, which has a projected gross over $2 million, will be held at the Talbot County Community Center, on U.S. Route 50 in Easton, Maryland. Over 400 decoys and related items will be sold, with prices ranging from $150 to $175,000. Absentee and Internet bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.
A decoy buy, sell and swap meet will be held in the parking lot, with 50 additional tables of decoy exhibitors set up inside the hall, Tuesday, Nov. 7, through Thursday, Nov. 9. The auction and show are open to the public, and there is no admission fee. The auction will be held in conjunction with the country’s premier decoy show, the Easton Waterfowl Festival. More information on the Waterfowl Festival is available at 410-822-4567.
An important pair of blue-winged teal by Lloyd Sterling. Both have fine scratch paint detail. Drake has slightly turned head. A gift from the Ward Brothers to Jim McLane. Guyette & Deeter image
Many great examples from carvers including the Ward Brothers (below), Mark McNair, Daniel Lake Leeds, Nathan Cobb and Ira Hudson are included. Other highlights in the sale include a rare and important calling green-winged teal drake (top) by noted carver Elmer Crowell of East Harwich, Massachusetts, and “Lions on Kill,” an acrylic on board painting by Bob Kuhn.
An exceptional swimming Bishop’s head-style Canada goose by the Ward Brothers. Fine feather paint detail on the body, including the breast. From the estate of Kenned Jard, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Guyette & Deeter image
The Kuhn painting (below) has been consigned by a New England conservation organization. It has been in their collection for many years and has never been offered for sale at auction. Bob Kuhn is a name synonymous with wildlife art and excellence for over 50 years. He was born in Buffalo, New York, and educated at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where he studied design, anatomy and life-drawing. For the next 30 years, he was one of the most popular wildlife illustrators in America before turning to easel painting full time in 1970. Kuhn traveled around the world to obtain inspiration, with many of his wildlife expeditions lasting eight weeks.
‘Lions on Kill,’ an acrylic on board by Bob Kuhn, signed, image size approximately 21in. x 44in. Guyette & Deeter image
Kuhn’s first love was perhaps African wildlife art, but in later years he concentrated on North American wildlife. Kuhn often painted simple backgrounds with horizontal bands of color and light. He worked primarily in acrylic and was well known for his ability to paint the particular movements and personalities of wild animals.
Rare and important standing herring gull by Charles ‘Shang’ Wheeler. Very large and full body, approximately 24in. in length. Guyette & Deeter image
Guyette & Deeter provides free decoy appraisals to anyone sending a decoy photo and stamped, self-addressed envelope to Guyette & Deeter Inc., P.O. Box 1170, St. Michaels, MD 21663. Phone: 410-745-0485 or by email to decoys@guyetteanddeeter.com, or to Jon Deeter, 7980 Darbys Run, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 or by email to jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com.
