HINGHAM, Mass. — Nearly 500 lots of vintage sporting collectibles, including antique decoys, bird carvings, fishing collectibles, and sporting art, form The Winter Sale at Copley Fine Art Auctions, taking place on Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24. The catalogs are now online and available for review and bidding at LiveAuctioneers.

Lloyd Tyler (1898-1970) lived across the street from the Ward Brothers in Crisfield, Maryland. He was nearly the same age as the Wards, yet is credited with beginning his decoy carving career eight years prior to them. With Crisfield’s three greatest carvers living virtually on top of each other, there was clearly creative energy shared between them. This Lloyd Tyler Hooded Merganser decoy is dated to 1930 and is the sale’s highest-estimated lot. Collectors have long recognized that this decoy captures the charming nature of the species, and so it carries a $150,000-$200,000 estimate.

Brian Cullity in his biography of A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), The Songless Aviary, writes “Crowell … created the most spectacular group of painted carvings the hunting world had ever seen. His working decoys from this period (1900-1915) also show a degree of love, labor and art that is unparalleled in the decoy world.” The sale includes a 1905 Canvasback hen carved and painted by Crowell and remaining in outstanding original condition. It’s estimated at $125,000-$175,000.

Hailing from West Creek, New Jersey, Nathan Rowley Horner (1882-1942) didn’t muster nearly the output of many other distinguished decoy makers, but his quality and lifelike designs are equally respected by collectors today. This hollow Merganser hen decoy is “an important new discovery as the only known Horner Merganser hen in original paint in private hands.” It comes to market with a $20,000-$30,000 estimate.

‘Fresh Air Dick’ Janson (1872-1951) lived alone in small boats or hand-built shacks along the banks of the Sonoma River in northern California. An avid outdoorsman, Janson carved decoys as a way of earning additional income, and the few that have survived are highly coveted. This exceedingly rare Green-winged Teal decoy dates to 1935 and has rarely seen feather painting on its back. It is estimated at $12,000-$18,000.

A whopping 30 examples from the career of American Impressionist and Realist painter Frank W. Benson (1862-1951) are a cornerstone of day 1. The top Benson lot is Bald Eagles (The Eagles) dating to 1941 and measuring 39.75 by 32in. In this fine work, painted on the eve of America’s involvement in World War II, Benson captures both the impressive power of our national symbol and a looming squall over a turbulent sea. The oil on canvas is estimated at $100,000-$200,000.