A selection of paintings and painted items by popular Cape Cod artist Ralph Cahoon brought substantial prices at Eldred’s 38th annual auction of Americana and paintings this past Thursday and Friday, August 2 and 3. Leading the way was an unusual Ralph Cahoon painting depicting two duck hunters poling their boat across a marsh with mermaids peering at them from the marsh grass.

An action-packed scene, the painting featured two other boats with hunters shooting at passing ducks, four sailing vessels, including one flying the American flag, and an island and lighthouse in the background. Estimated at $35/45,000, the oil on Masonite, measuring 24 by 33 inches, was actively bid to a selling price of $126,000.

Other Cahoon items in the auction included a pair of painted wall hangings that sold for $43,125 each, and a painted blanket box decorated with a steam-engine locomotive from the Cape Cod railway brought $19,550.

A complete review will appear in a future issue.