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Spectacular & Rare Sicklebill Curlew Decoy Soars To $111,550 At Auction
At The Auction Held July 24Th-25Th By Decoys Unlimited, Nearly 1,000 Lots Crossed The Block In A Successful Auction That Grossed More Than $1.2 Million.

Sicklebill Curlew: The top lot of the sale was this spectacular sicklebill curlew from Duxbury, Mass.($111,550)

Decoys Unlimited

HYANNIS, Mass. --(Ammoland.com)- A spectacular and rare sicklebill curlew decoy made in Duxbury, Mass., by a craftsman whose identity is a matter of debate among veteran collectors, soared to $111,550 at an auction held July 24-25 by Decoys Unlimited, Inc., based in Barnstable, Mass. The sale was conducted at the Cape Codder Resort & Hotel in Hyannis, Mass., on Cape Cod.

The sicklebill curlew was described by Dr. George Ross Starr, in his book Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway, as “the finest example of a sicklebill decoy in my collection” and “the kind of a decoy a collector dreams about.” He called it “a beautifully proportioned piece of work.” It’s rare in part because sicklebill curlews are scarce in New England and therefore so are their decoys.

It was by far the top lot in an auction that saw just under 1,000 decoys change hands. About 400 people attended in person (121 were registered bidders), plus there were 57 absentee bidders and 90 phone bidders (who together bid on 639 lots). Internet bidding (via Artfact.com) had 153 registered bidders. All of these numbers were new records for Decoys Unlimited, Inc.

“The sale went well above our expectations despite a global economy that is still a bit anemic,” said Ted Harmon of Decoys Unlimited, Inc. “But the market for quality decoys is strong and I see it remaining that way for some time. The less expensive decoys were a bit off, but not as far off as they were last year.” The auction, he added, grossed more than $1.2 million.

Headlining the sale was the private collection of the late Joseph Bard “Joe” French, plus other quality consignments from across North America. Mr. French (1919-2009) was a pioneer in the hobby who collected his first decoy in 1954 and took delivery of his last decoy just two days before his passing. He also wrote extensively on the subject and produced decoy videos.

Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

The auction’s second top lot, at $60,375, was an outstanding hissing goose made circa early 1900s by George Boyd, the master decoy maker from Seabrook, N.H. The canvas over frame Canada goose boasted excellent, finely crackled original paint throughout plus a strong, nearly perfect wing, tail and cheek outline, and great feather detailing on the sides and rear neck.

Two lots posted identical sale prices of $37,375. One was an exceptionally rare pair of circa early 1900s unrigged and unused mergansers, acquired as a gift from Irving Wallace from Small Point, Maine. A letter of provenance came with the birds. The other was a pair of racy swimming red-breasted mergansers (circa 1918-1922) by A.E. Crowell of East Harwich, Mass.

A one-of-a-kind American merganser hen made in the late 1800s by the Stevens Factory of Weedsport, N.Y. (with the maker probably George Stevens, owing to the concave carving on the neck seat) went to a determined bidder for $29,900; and a pair of redheads crafted circa 1920s by the Ward Brothers of Crisfield, Md., with original paint on body and bill, hit $24,180.

Artwork was also featured in the auction. A framed oil on board of two mermaids and King Neptune by the noted Cape Cod artist Ralph Cahoon (1910-1982), a relative of C.D. Cahoon, who is said to have painted decoys for Elmer Crowell when he was behind on orders, brought $24,150. A second Ralph Cahoon work, depicting mermaids at auction, made $23,000.

A rare and early example of a sanderling (or “wind bird”), executed circa 1860-1890 and attributed to a member of the Chipman family of Sandwich (on Cape Cod), commanded $23,000; while a circa 1900 greater yellowlegs by A.E. Crowell featuring fine early period brushed soft original paint with very light wear and only a few very small scuffs knocked down at $18,400.

A pair of outstanding lots each fetched $17,200. The first was a circa-1909 eider drake by Augustus Aaron “Gus” Wilson, Maine’s most celebrated decoy maker. Wilson carved animated decoys of all types, including this early sculpture, in a career that spanned about five decades. The second was an early mallard drake by A.E. Crowell (circa 1915-1918) with original paint.

Another early example by A.E. Crowell – this one a circa-1915 golden plover with the original paint and in all-original condition with no repairs — crossed the block at $16,100; and a pair of Evans Factory (active 1921-1937) blue-winged teal (circa early 1900s), with early paint and the rare double blue speculum, plus the ‘Evans Decoy’ stamp on the bottom, rose to $14,950.

Rounding out the day’s top lots, a rare and oversize red-breasted merganser drake by Doug Jester of Chincoteaque, Va., having the original paint with some crazing, breezed to $13,800; and an early gunning model of an immature (or winter plumage) black-bellied plover by A.E. Crowell (circa 1905-1910), with extremely fine original paint, also gaveled for $13,800.

Ted Harmon has been in the decoy collecting business since 1966 and has been in the same Barnstable, Mass., location since 1970. He and his wife Judy started the auction aspect of the business in 1986. Today, Decoys Unlimited, Inc., is a full-service company for collectors of American bird decoys, folk art and related items. The firm also offers personalized collection advice, auction and private purchase representation, brokering for sales and appraisal services.

Decoys Unlimited, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item or an entire collection, you may call them at (508) 362-2766 or (508) 737-2193; or, you can e-mail them at theodores.harmon@comcast.net. The firm’s next big auction will be a mixed antiques and decoys sale slated for late October or early November on Cape Cod.

Boyd Goose Decoy: Outstanding early 1900s hissing goose made by George Boyd of Seabrook, N.H. ($60,375)

Crowell yellowlegs Decoy: Greater yellowlegs by A.E. Crowell featuring soft early period brushed original paint ($18,400)

Crowell Mergasers Decoys: Pair of circa 1918-1922 racy swimming red-breasted mergansers by A. E. Crowell ($37,375)

Evans Teal Decoys: Pair of Evans Factory Decoys (active 1921-1937) blue-winged teal, created circa early 1900s ($14,950)

To learn more about Decoys Unlimited, Inc., and for more information on the fall auction as times and dates are determined, please log on to www.decoysunlimitedinc.net.

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Bear Trap Made In The 1880S, 44 Inches Long And Weighing 43 Lbs., Hits $3,491 In Internet And Catalog Auction Ended Mar. 19 By Soldusa.Com
The trap, sporting some wicked-looking teeth, was the second-top lot of the 1,700 items offered.

Bear Trap: Circa 1880s Oneida Newhouse No. 6 bear trap, weighing 43 lbs., with wicked teeth ($3,491).

SoldUSA.com

MATTHEWS, NC --(Ammoland.com)- A vintage Oneida Newhouse No. 6 bear trap, made in the 1880s and weighing a whopping 43 pounds, with three wicked-looking teeth mounted on each massive jaw, sold for $3,491 in an Internet and catalog auction that went online in February and ended March 19 by SoldUSA.com, the hunting and fishing collectibles and militaria auction website.

The trap still had its original anchor chain – also heavy and massive – and a slickpan with raised letters that read, “S. Newhouse Oneida Community, N.Y.,” with “No. 6” in the center. The trap folded up for storage and was an impressive 44 inches when fully opened out. It still had a good deal of the original black paint and the rest showed old surface rust that patina’d out well.

“We got this bear trap in about a week before the sale ended,” said David Reichle of SoldUSA.com. “That’s too bad, because I believe if more people had known about it for a longer time, it could have brought $5,000 or more. What a piece. It was found in an abandoned house in Colorado by the consignor, who called us looking to sell.”

The trap was one of about 1,700 lots that changed hands in an auction that featured ammo (600 lots), guns (50 lots), militaria (350 lots), advertising items (50 lots), and coins (50 lots, all silver and copper). The auction attracted over 25,000 registered online bidders, from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, France and Canada. Phone, fax and absentee bidding was also brisk.

“I really do believe the economy is picking up,” Mr. Reichle observed. “This was easily the most active auction of the last three we’ve held, and bidding was spirited across the board. I just came back from the Wannamaker’s Gun Show in Tulsa, and that place was jammed with gun enthusiasts and fans of militaria. You’d never have guessed there’s a recession going on.”

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

The top lot of the sale was a gorgeous and quite stunning fancy double eagle coin necklace in a coronet setting, the centerpiece of which was a rare U.S. $20 gold coin set in 14kt gold. The coin was flanked by 43 diamonds, totaling 2.03 carats. The necklace even had a nice storage pouch, as well as a dated jeweler’s appraisal sheet. A determined bidder paid $3,995.

An early Colt 2nd model new line .22 caliber pocket revolver, made sometime between 1873 and 1884 and having 99 percent of of the original nickel plate and genuine elephant ivory grips, hammered for $1,068. The weapon was serial #4559 (proving it was an early production model) and it boasted nearly all of the fire blue on the hammer, trigger, cylinder, pin and barrel.

Ammo boxes are hugely collectible, and this sale had some wonderful examples. An original, unopened 50-count box of Winchester model 1873 .44 caliber cartridges (two-piece, fully sealed, with the correct green box top) breezed to $564; while a full brick of Remington Kleanbore .22 caliber Winchester shells, showing considerable shelf wear, still realized $535.

Anything with the name Winchester on it does consistently well. An outdoor metal sign reading, “Winchester Rifles, Shot Guns and Ammunition,” beautifully framed and matted, 10 inches by 13.5 inches, brought $565; and a hard-to-find Winchester referee’s whistle (No. 1806), nickel plated, on a 14-inch chain and still with the original cork ball inside, topped out at $283.

Pistols were offered in abundance. A Winchester model 363 single-shot target pistol, still in the original box (serial #043157), caliber 4.5mm/.177, hit the mark for $481; a mid-1880s Pepperbox bar hammer 6-shot pistol with rotating 3-inch barrel, .31 caliber, coasted to $398; and an Allen & Thurber bar hammer ladies’ muff pistol with screw-on barrel, .36 caliber, made $344.

Rounding out the sale’s top lots: an original muster and payroll document for Company H, 41st Georgia Volunteer Infantry, for Dec. 31, 1862 through Feb. 28, 1863, with detailed listings of 52 officers and men in the company, with all their signatures, went for $386; and a World War I M1917 bolo knife (Plumb Mfg., Phila., 1918), with wood scabbard, sold for $208.

SoldUSA.com’s next big auction is already online and concludes May 21. Featured are hundreds of lots of ammunition, militaria, advertising items (to include a 1948 Coca-Cola Art Deco-style wall clock), coins and ephemera, to include calendars and posters. The paper items have been photographed in normal conditions and with a black light, to show their restoration.

Colt Revolver: Colt 2nd model new line pocket revolver, .22 caliber, made between 1873 and 1884 ($1,068).

To learn more about SoldUSA.com and the auction slated to end May 21, please log on to www.SoldUSA.com. The firm is always looking for quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item or an entire collection, you may call them at (704) 815-1500, or you can e-mail them at support@SoldUSA.com. For more information, log on to www.SoldUSA.com.

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