Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) or William “Bill” Bowman (1824-1906), Yellowlegs, circa 1900, made $90,000.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — On February 17 at the American Theater in the Design District of Upper King Street, Copley Fine Art Auctions conducted its 2017 Winter Sale, which it characterized as “another great success.” All five cover lots sold realized strong prices, and the auction posted a 90 percent sell-through rate, totaling more than $1.3 million.
The firm successfully sold more than 450 items of antique and contemporary decoys and American, sporting and wildlife art. Conducted in conjunction with the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, the auction is perennially balanced between fine art and decoys, offering a wide range of American, folk, sporting, wildlife and western art.
The top painting was one of two works by Ohio artist Edmund Osthaus crossing the block. “Pointer and Quail” ($30/50,000), a rare, vertically oriented painting with provenance to a St Louis, Mo., private collection, sold for $63,000, including premium.
Top decoy was the Herrick-Ward yellowlegs, one of the finest Bunn/Bowman decoys held in private hands, which brought $90,000, including premium.
Watch for a complete report on this sale in a later issue.
Edmund H. Osterhaus (1858-1928), “Pointer and Quail,” oil on canvas, 27 by 24 inches, realized $63,000.
