Collectors continue to feel comfortable bidding remotely given our guaranteed condition reports, which most other auction houses do not offer. The top lot in the sale was an important feeding golden plover with carved wings by Elmer Crowell that sold for $108,000. Another highlight was an exceptional pintail by Lloyd Sterling that set an auction record for carver selling at $72,000. The 99 lots over $10,000 is the most in a Guyette & Deeter auction since the sale of Dr. James McCleery's collection in January of 2000.
The sale featured the collection of Jim and Pat Doherty, with many important and exciting decoys being offered. Items from the Doherty collection rounded out the top lots in the sale, including a merganser and a black duck by Ira Hudson that sold for $66,000 and $54,000.
Bidding was done via phone, absentee, and online through Invaluable, Bidsquare, and LiveAuctioneers. The sale was live streamed to bidders. The total for the sale hit mid estimate, pushing Guyette & Deeter's 2020 auction total over $10.5 million. While this has been an excellent year for the company, the team at Guyette & Deeter is more confident than ever that the future of decoy collecting is bright. New collectors and enthusiasm with current collectors is growing with every auction.
Our next sale will be held in April or May 2021 from Lombard, Illinois in conjunction with the Midwest Decoy Collectors Association Show. Quality consignments will be accepted until March 15. We will also be offering an online only Special Event sale in the month of January at Decoysforsale.com. Contact our office at 410-745-0485 to discuss consigning to either event.
Feeding golden plover, Elmer Crowell
Merganser hen, Ira Hudson
Black duck, Ira Hudson
Bluewing teal, John Blair, Sr.
Canada goose, Elmer Crowell
Goldeneye, Albert Laing
Black bellied plover, Elmer Crowell
Mallard hen, Ward Brothers
Canada goose, James Best. Repainted as swan
a long time ago
World auction record for carver
Canvas covered goose, George Boyd
Canvasback, Robert Elliston
Canada goose, Ward Brothers
Bluewing teal, John "Daddy" Holly
Bluebill, Nathan Rowley Horner
Bluebill, Ben Dye
World auction record for carver
Ruddy duck, Robert Morse
Black duck, Shang Wheeler
Black duck, Nathan Rowley Horner
Black bellied plover, Daniel DeMott
Brant, Ward Brothers
Pair of wood ducks, Ward Brothers
Goldeneye, Elmer Crowell
Greenwing teal, Robert Elliston
Flying redhead wall plaque, Chauncey Wheeler
Pair of bluewing teal, Elmer Crowell
Widgeon, Elmer Crowell
Pair of canvasbacks, John Schweikart
Mallard, John Dorsett
Brant, Dave "Umbrella" Watson
Bluewing teal hen, John Graham
Black duck, Harry M. Shourds
Willet, Elisha Burr
Mallard, Ward Brothers
54" long salmon plaque, P.D. Malloch
Redhead, Lee Dudley
Pintail, Mason Decoy Factory
English/Dawson pintail hen
Canvasback, Ward Brothers
Lesser yellowlegs, Elmer Crowell
Bufflehead, Harry V. Shourds
Curlew, Luther Lee Nottingham
Wood duck, Elmer Crowell
Brant, Ira Hudson
Walking black duck, Ira Hudson
Black bellied plover, Dave "Umbrella" Watson
Black duck, Ward Brothers
Brant, Chauncey Wheeler
Bluebill, Harry V. Shourds
Semi palmated plover, Elmer Crowell
Body booting swan, Madison Mitchell
World auction record for carver
Pair of redheads, Harry V. Shourds
Canada goose, David Ward
World auction record for carver
Mallard hen, Sydney Duplessis
World auction record for carver
Miniature preening yellowlegs, Steve Weaver
World auction record for carver
Gadwall, Roger Barton
World auction record for carver
Fish plaque, Phillippe Sirois
World auction record for carver
Fish decoy, Frank Mizera
World auction record for carver
22.5" tall porcelain Campbell's Soup advertising sign