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A $214,000 Mallard at Guyette & Schmidt Sets Record for Carver

ST CHARLES, ILL.
: A John Blair Sr carved and painted mallard decoy shot past presale estimates at Guyette & Schmidt's recent North American Decoys at Auction sale realizing a record price paid at auction for the carver at $214,000.

The sale, April 28 and 29, which grossed an impressive $2.7 million, had some 36 decoys sell in excess of $10,000.

Hooded merganser by William Hart 203000
Hooded merganser by William Hart, $203,000.
The rare mallard hen decoy by the Philadelphia carver retained its near mint original paint and was in a swimming pose. Also sold was a nearly identically carved bird, except that it was painted as a drake, that brought $103,500. The decoys, ex-collection of James McCleery, were sold by Guyette & Schmidt/Sotheby's in 2000 at the McCleery sale for $112,500, and $60,250, respectively.

Another of the top lots was a William Hart hooded merganser that sold for $203,000, establishing a record price not only for the carver, but also for any Canadian decoy ever sold at auction.

A complete report of the auction will appear in a future issue.

-DSS

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for 11/21/2009
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