Charleston, SC, USA -(Ammoland.com)- On February 18, Guyette & Deeter, Inc. held its fifth annual decoy and sporting art auction in Charleston, South Carolina, in partnership with the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.
The sale was within estimate at $610,000, with six lots selling for over $10,000. This is Guyette & Deeter, Inc.’s smallest auction, with just 287 lots. The auction was unreserved and had guaranteed condition reports. Of the 287 lots only five failed to sell, resulting in a sell through rate better than 98%.
Gary Guyette and Jon Deeter attributed the success of the auction to the crowd on hand, extensive promotion, and the Guyette & Deeter, Inc. guaranteed condition reports which gives buyers confidence to buy – online, absentee, and on the phone. Bid calling was done by Larry Carter. The auction was conducted at the Charleston Marriott. A decoy buy, sell, and swap with 30 dealers, was conducted in the same ballroom.
Highlights for the sale included the only known turned head yellowlegs by John Dilley for $40,250, a rare pre brand widgeon, circa 1890s by Elmer Crowell for $37,375, and a pinch breasted pintail drake by the Ward Brothers selling for $20,125.
The sale featured the collections of William Berry & Pat Kalinsky, Gene Carr, John Joseph Heggarty, Harold & Nancy O’Connor, Carl Olson, Bill Royal, Dr. Richard Snell, and Leonard Willis.
Guyette & Deeter, established in 1984, is the world’s largest decoy auction firm with over $170,000,000 in decoy sales. They hold four cataloged auctions per year. In February at the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston SC, April at the North American Vintage Decoy & Sporting Collectibles Show in St. Charles IL, summer in Portsmouth NH, and November at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton MD. For more details, visit their website at www.guyetteanddeeter.com. The firm also conducts weekly online auctions at www.decoysforsale.com. Since 1989, Guyette & Deeter has dominated the decoy auction market. In January 2007, Guyette & Deeter, in conjunction with Christie’s (New York), sold a merganser hen by Lothrop Holmes for the current world record auction price of $856,000.
Guyette & Deeter provides free decoy appraisals to anyone sending a decoy photo and stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Guyette & Deeter, PO Box 1170, St. Michaels, MD 21663. For email, send to:
- Gary Guyette: [email protected], phone: 410-745-0485
- Jon Deeter: [email protected], phone: 440-610-1768
Guyette & Deeter, Inc.’s next decoy sale will be held April 27 & 28 in St. Charles, Illinois. The sale will feature decoys from the collection of Peter Brown, the most extensive known collection of Canadian decoys. It is held in conjunction with the Midwest Decoy Collectors Show. Quality consignments for the sale will be accepted until March 3 or until full.
Guyette & Deeter’s next sale will be held on April 27 & 28 in St. Charles, Illinois. The sale will feature decoys from the collection of Peter Brown, the most extensive known collection of Canadian decoys.
The consignment deadline for this sale is March 3, or until full. Click here to see the February highlights.
About Guyette & Deeter:
Established in 1984, Guyette & Deeter, Inc. has held over 120 live auctions, realizing over $160 million in sales of decoys, paintings, and related sporting items. Our firm has handled the most important decoys and collections in North America and we have set nearly all of the world records in these categories: duck and shorebird decoys, fish decoys and plaques, duck calls and crow calls, decorative carvings, shotgun shell boxes, salesman sample canoes, and other related items.
Visit their website.