Anchored by Several Lifetime Collections, Guyette and Deeter's

Annual Spring Auction is a Smashing Success

Lombard, Illinois – On April 24 & 25, Guyette and Deeter held their annual spring Decoy and Sporting Art auction in Lombard, Illinois.  The auction, held in conjunction with the North American Decoy Collectors Association Show, grossed just over $6 million, which was over its high estimate and which places it as the third highest grossing decoy auction of all time.  The 640-lot auction had 9 lots sell for over $100,000 and 107 for over $10,000.  Four lots made the top 100 highest prices decoys list and six new auction records for carvers were achieved.

The sale began with offerings from the lifetime collection of Ted and Judy Harmon.  Lot 1, an important wood duck drake by Elmer Crowell with an estimate of $175,000 to $225,000, finished at $504,000, the top selling lot in the auction.  Five more Elmer Crowell works from the Harmon collection surpassed the $100,000 mark including an outstanding preening black duck at $324,000 and an important rigmate pair of redheads at $264,000.  The Harmon collection set new auction records for carvers Melvin Gardner Lawrence, Keyes Chadwick, and James Look.

Session I of the Peter and Diana Bennett collection followed the Harmon offerings and prices remained strong for early and rare Mason decoys.  The only known pair of challenge grade wood ducks and the earliest examples of the species by the maker brought $354,000.  An early, hand carved blue wing teal in outstanding condition sold for $70,800 and a sculptural oversize redhead finished at $42,000.

Decoys, fish, and folk art from the collections of Len Carnaghi, Jim Richards, and Don and Mary Elizabeth Snyder were all met with great demand and prices remained strong throughout the two-day sale.

Guyette and Deeter’s next auction will be held on July 25 & 26 at the Country School in Easton, Maryland.  The consignment deadline for this auction is less than three weeks away on Friday, May 18.  Contact Jon Deeter or Zac Cote to have your items considered for this two-day event.