Active bidding was once again registered at Guyette and Schmidt’s recent decoy auction, April 26 and 27, 2007, with shorebirds again eliciting strong prices and claiming top honors. Leading the way was a rare Hudsonian curlew by Long Island carver William Bowman, pictured, that displayed typical characteristics of the carver’s elegantly sculpted anatomical style.

In excellent original paint, but with a professional bill replacement, the striking decoy opened for bidding at $100,000 and was soon being hammered down to a buyer in the room for $313,000.

A “dust jacket” plover by Elmer Crowell was bid to $291,000 by Boston dealer Stephen O’Brien Jr, and a small semipalmated plover by Crowell realized $214,000.

Decoys of note included a Charles Perdue sleeping mallard hen that sold for $252,500, and an early John Williams, Cedar Island, Va., ruddy duck brought $159,000.

A marked increase in the price structure for fish decoys was noted with several Lake Chautauqua pieces carved by an unknown maker bringing premium prices. Included was a 6¾-inch brown trout spearing decoy with crosshatched decoration on the painted surface, pictured, that sold for $27,600, a musky spearing decoy brought $26,450, and another brown trout realized $21,850.

A complete report will appear in a future issue.