Exceptional Goose at Guyette & Schmidt Rounds Out an Exciting Week of Offerings in Maine

Boston sporting dealer Steven O'Brien purchased the goose for $45,100.

By David Smith

OGUNQUIT, MAINE -- An exceptional and early Canada goose by an unknown carver from the Philadelphia area, thought to have been made in the late 1880s, doubled presale estimates during Guyette and Schmidt's summer auction on July 25. The decoy, described as being in pristine condition with fine original paint, was a hollow carved piece with an unusually high reversed head on a sleek neck extending two thirds the length of the body towards the tail.

Bidding on the lot was brisk with all six telephone lines participating, along with several from the gallery. Estimated at $22,500/27,500, the rare bird was hammered down to Boston sporting dealer Steven O'Brien, Jr, for $45,100.

Complete details of the auction, along with reports from numerous other auctions that took place in Maine over the course of the week, will appear in a future issue.