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Sleeping mallard decoy by Shang Wheeler, estimated at $80,000-$120,000

Shang Wheeler duck decoy headlines Guyette & Deeter Aug. 6-7 auction

Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sheila Gibson Stoodley
Sleeping mallard decoy by Shang Wheeler, estimated at $80,000-$120,000
Sleeping mallard decoy by Shang Wheeler, estimated at $80,000-$120,000

SAINT MICHAELS, Md. – Guyette & Deeter, Inc. is pleased to announce its next sporting art and decoy auction, to be held on Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

The sale provides an excellent opportunity to participate in an acclaimed showcasing of important decoys. Highlights from the collections in this sale include a wonderful sleeping mallard drake by the Connecticut carver Charles “Shang” Wheeler. The decoy is featured on the dust jacket cover of a book dedicated to the carver by Dixon Merkt.

Pair of canvasback duck decoys by Elmer Crowell, estimated at $40,000-$50,000
Pair of canvasback duck decoys by Elmer Crowell, estimated at $40,000-$50,000

Additionally, the sale features the best known pair of canvasbacks carved by Elmer Crowell of Massachusetts. Another highlight is a mallard drake in excellent condition made by John Blair, Sr. It was originally found by Bob White and is now being sold as part of the Bruce Williams collection. In addition, two superb Bowman shorebirds, a dowitcher and a greater yellowlegs, will be offered from the collection of Virginia and Johnathan Chua.

Mallard drake decoy by John Blair, Sr., estimated at $30,000-$40,000
Mallard drake decoy by John Blair, Sr., estimated at $30,000-$40,000

Decoys from Illinois will be well represented in the sale, including a sleeping mallard by Bert Graves, made around 1925. It is in pristine condition as it was preserved in a gun safe for more than 30 years.

Greater yellowlegs by William Bowman, estimated at $65,000-$95,000
Greater yellowlegs by William Bowman, estimated at $65,000-$95,000

The addition of the D. C. North collection to the sale ensures Virginia and North Carolina collectors will have many choices. Perhaps the rarest of the offerings is a circa-1900 Bufflehead drake by Arthur Cobb – the only known example of this species carved by him.

Only known bufflehead drake carved by Arthur Cobb, estimated at $35,000-$45,000
Only known bufflehead drake carved by Arthur Cobb, estimated at $35,000-$45,000

From the Jim McCleery collection, representing Long Island and Maryland, will be a tern shorebird decoy made during the millenary trade era around 1890. As well, look for a stunning bluebill drake made in 1936 by the Ward brothers of Crisfield, Maryland.

1883 Herman Simon oil on canvas of waterfowling on the Chesapeake Bay, estimated at $75.000-$95,000
1883 Herman Simon oil on canvas of waterfowling on the Chesapeake Bay, estimated at $75.000-$95,000

Among the sporting art choices is what many consider to be the most important oil on canvas waterfowling scene ever painted. It was completed in 1883 by noted Philadelphia artist Herman Simon. The subject is two wealthy sportsmen shooting from a double sink box in the Chesapeake Bay, and it is the only known painting of its kind. Likely a commissioned piece, it features two gunners covered up in canvasbacks. The canvasback was king of the Chesapeake at the turn of the century, and sink box hunting was so successful that it was eventually outlawed. Never before have we seen a painting that captures this moment in time.

Overall, the amount of sporting art paintings offered in the sale is impressive, including noted American artists such as Edmond Osthaus, Chet Reneson, George Brown, William Henry Machen, and John Serry-Lester.

Oscar Peterson wall plaque featuring squirrels, estimated at $30,000-$50,000
Oscar Peterson wall plaque featuring squirrels, estimated at $30,000-$50,000

The August auction also features important items from the collection of author Steven Michaan. He procured the finest collection of American fish decoys, with a strong emphasis on carvings from Oscar Peterson as well as spearing decoys from Lake St. Clair, Michigan. Many of the fish decoys and folk-art pieces are pictured in his popular books, Beneath the Ice and American Fish Decoys, and were exhibited at the American Folk Art Museum exhibition in 1990. The collection was mostly built by Michaan, who bought privately in the 1980s and 90s, thusly many pieces have never been offered publicly. Several Peterson plaques as well as fish decoys by noted maker Hans Janner are being offered publicly for the first time as well.

Hans Janner rock bass fish decoy, estimated at $25,000-$35,000
Hans Janner rock bass fish decoy, estimated at $25,000-$35,000

Guyette & Deeter provides free and confidential decoy appraisals to anyone sending a decoy photo and stamped, self addressed envelope to: Guyette & Deeter, P.O. Box 1170, St. Michaels, MD 21663 or emailing Gary or Jon. For additional information, contact: Gary Guyette at Gary@guyetteanddeeter.com or 410-745-0485 and/or Jon Deeter at jdeeter@guyetteanddeeter.com or 440-610-1768.

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