Copley Fine Art Auctions – The Sporting Sale 2022
July 14-15
www.copleyart.com
info@copleyart.com
617-536-0030

PLYMOUTH, MASS. — On July 14 and 15, Copley Fine Art Auctions, the decoy and sporting art auction house, will conduct its 17th annual Sporting Sale. This auction, consisting of 675 lots, one of the company’s largest to date, will offer buyers the opportunity to acquire world-class paintings, antique decoys, bird carvings, folk art and powder tins from important collections. The auction will be live-streamed and will utilize phone, absentee and internet bidding on three different online platforms, including CopleyLive, Bidsquare and Live Auctioneers. The auction will begin at 10 am on both Thursday and Friday.

The auction will include offerings from two important du Pont collections, a descendant of Eugène E. du Pont (1882-1966) and a descendant of Thomas Coleman du Pont (1863-1930). The du Pont objects include previously unknown A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) bird carvings and 68 antique powder tin lots. Eugène E. du Pont was a personal friend of Elmer Crowell’s and, as such, obtained his decoys directly from the maker. Du Pont’s woodcock, ($70/100,000), mallard drake, ($50/80,000) and blue jay ($15/25,000) are sure to entice bidders. Thomas Coleman du Pont was the great grandson of the company’s founder. Along with his cousins, Thomas bought out the family’s explosives business and then served as the firm’s president from 1902 until 1915. This important powder tin collection features major American manufacturers, such as du Pont, Laflin & Rand, American Powder and King and Hazard.

Copley principal Stephen O’Brien Jr said, “In addition to the estates and private collections, several notable individual works have been consigned to this sale. We’ve been fortunate to land two major Taits in a row. His well-documented “Steady” ($50/80,000), depicting two setters pointing quail, is notable for its bright composition and sublime condition. This painting really speaks to me. Though I grew up a New England bird shooter, I owned and hunted setters, and I have found wild quail second to none.”

O’Brien continued, “The vast majority of the estate pieces are unreserved and carry no estimates, so it should be a very exciting auction for our clients. We really like putting the auction in the hands of our bidders. In an age where many auction firms place high reserves and have unverified results, our ethos is to let the buyers choose their own levels.”

Canine art will include “Steady,” an oil on canvas by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) ($50/80,000) and Edmund Henry Osthaus’ (1858-1928) oil on canvas of setter puppies ($60/90,000).

Shorebirds will headline the decoys on offer. The Harmon Hollow Nantucket Curlew, circa 1850, hails from the collection of Ted and Judy Harmon ($150/250,000). The form, paint, patina and featherlight construction of this curlew should ignite top decoy collectors. Copley decoy specialist Colin McNair noted, “Of all the Nantucket curlew forms extant, this may very well be the best.”

For information, 617-536-0030 or www.copleyart.com.

LIVE-STREAMED & 675 LOTS
Archibald Thorburn (British, 1860-1935) Woodcock, 1909, watercolor, 10 1/2 by 14 1/2 in.
Edmund Henry Osthaus (1858-1928) Two Setters, watercolor, 20 1/4 by 29 in.
The Harmon Hollow Nantucket Curlew, c. 1850
Rare Curlew by Charles Sumner Bunn (1865-1952) Shinnecock, NY, c. 1900
The du Pont Crowell Blue Jay by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1912
The Hunter Sterling Wood Duck Drake by Lloyd Aaron Sterling (1880-1964) Crisfield, MD, c. 1925
A.B. Frost (1851-1928), The Christmas ‘Possum, 1900, gouache, 23 1/2 by 16 1/4 in.
The Parrish Rig Shourds Canada Goose by Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1890
Two Hazard Powder Tins, from a Private Collection, a descendant of Thom- as Coleman du Pont, 1 of 68 lots
Frank X. Leyendecker (1877-1924) The Critical Veteran, 1919, oil on canvas, 36 by 30 in.
One Hazard Sea Shooting Powder Keg, from a Private Collection, a descendant of Thomas Coleman du Pont, 1 of 68 lots
Miniature Dove Family by Allen J. King (1878-1963) North Scituate, RI, c. 1940
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Steady, 1878, oil on canvas, 14 1/2 by 21 in.
1936 Mallard Pair by the Ward Brothers, Lemuel T. (1896-1984) and Stephen (1895-1976) Crisfield, MD, c. 1936
Edwin Megargee (1883-1958) Two Setters, 1939, oil on canvas, 24 by 32 in.
One American Black Powder Can, from a Private Collection, a descendant of Thomas Coleman du Pont, 1 of 68 lots
The du Pont Crowell Mallard Drake by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1912
Edmund Henry Osthaus (1858-1928) Setter Puppies, oil on canvas, 18 by 36 in.
Emile Albert Gruppe (1896-1978) Hauling the Nets, oil on canvas, 30 by 36 in.
Exemplary Dowitcher by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1910
The Mackey-Colio American Egret, NJ, c. 1880, 45 in. long
Set of 22 Miniature Shorebirds by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) East Harwich, MA, c. 1930
Bob Kuhn (1920-2007) Wild Chorus, acrylic on board, 14 by 30 in.
PREVIEW THE SPORTING SALE 2020 AT COPLEYART.COM