Copley Fine Art Auctions – The Winter Sale 2025
FEB. 21-22
copleyart.com
617-536-0030

PEMBROKE, MASS. — On February 21 and 22, Copley Fine Art Auctions will conduct its annual Winter Sale. Consisting of more than 500 lots, the sale will offer buyers the opportunity to acquire antique and contemporary decoys, decorative carvings, paintings, prints, folk art, Americana, bronze sculptures and fishing collectibles from curated collections and estates. The live-streamed auction will utilize phone, absentee and internet bidding on three different online platforms, including Copley Live.

Copley’s veteran auctioneer for the past 12 years, Peter Cocculuto, will once again be on the podium with the gavel. The auction will begin at 10 am on both Friday and Saturday.

Offerings from major estates and collections will headline the sale, including Zane Grey fishing collectibles from the Ronald J. Gard collection, session two of the George Secor decoy collection with the proceeds from the hammer price again to be donated to Delta Waterfowl, the Trenton Spolar MD collection of waterfowl decoys and bird carvings, the Alex Chester collection of works by Aiden Lassell Ripley and a group of pinnacle shorebird decoys from a private Florida collection.

American bird decoys and Zane Grey fishing collectibles from the Ronald J. Gard collection will cross the block. Leading the decoy offerings is the McCleery Dexter-Gardner Dowitcher Pair ($200/300,000) by Newton Dexter (1838-1901) and Dr Clarence T. Gardner (1844-1907). Joining this famous duo is the Gray-Rig Preening Goose ($30/50,000). Fewer than a dozen T. Gray rig decoys are known to have surfaced and this carving from the Gard collection is the only preener in original paint.

The Hooded Merganser ($100/150,000) by Crisfield carver Lloyd Tyler (1898-1970) represents a highlight of the Crisfield decoys on offer. This carving is widely considered to be one of the greatest merganser decoys to ever come out of not only the state of Maryland but the entire South. Other important carvings from Crisfield include a wigeon pair by Lloyd Aaron Sterling (1880-1964) ($20/30,000) and the Ward Egret ($15/25,000) by Lemuel T. Ward (1896-1984) and Stephen Ward (1895-1976) This carving hails from the collection of Ward brothers’ author Ronald J. Gard. In addition to waterfowl, the Ward brothers made upland game birds, birds of prey and shorebirds; however, no herons have surfaced and this is the only egret known. Also on offer by the Ward brothers is the circa 1932 Martin-Rig Canvasback Hen ($10/15,000).

An extremely rare running golden plover by Lothrop Turner Holmes (1824-1899) ($20/30,000), a George Boyd plover — one of the finest known to exist, and the Earnest Burr Plover in Emerging Plumage by Elisha Burr (1839-1909) ($12/18,000) are also set to cross the block.

By every metric, the works of Anthony Elmer Crowell (1862-1952) have led the decoy and decorative market for more than a century. Of the top 100 decoy lots ever sold at auction, Crowell accounts for 31. The next highest carver tallies six. Several of the maker’s pinnacle works will be on offer at the sale. A Crowell shorebird trio ($40/60,000) consisting of three rare decoys will cross the block. This includes a rigmate pair of yellowlegs from the rig of Joseph F. Sherer and a willet made during the same period. The yellowlegs duo features a rare running greater yellowlegs and an even less common sentinel lesser yellowlegs. Joining this all-star Crowell lineup is a near-mint complete set of 25 miniature waterfowl ($40/60,000), a wing-up yellowlegs ($15/25,000) and two bobwhite quail (each $20/30,000) with one being a rare feeder by the famed maker.

Leading the 31 Secor collection decoy lots on offer is a rare canvasback pair by Henry “Hank” Catton (1854-1933) of Ridgetown, Ontario ($15/25,000). This iconic pair of canvasbacks set an auction record for the maker more than 15 years ago.

Rounding out the rich variety of carvings on offer is a rattlesnake and chipmunk box ($20/30,000) carved by Frank S. Finney. This rare example’s incised details and hidden drawer display the maker’s exceptional craftsmanship.

The sale will also offer an opportunity to acquire Zane Grey fishing collectibles from the Ronald J. Gard collection. This collection of 25 lots includes fishing reels, rods, photographs, personal letters and collectibles that Zane Grey (1872-1939) owned.

Leading the sporting art lineup is “A Moment’s Rest — Foxhounds at the Ford,” ($50/80,000), an oil on canvas by Percival Rosseau (1859-1937). Rosseau’s depiction of a horse and hounds by the river demonstrates the artist’s familiarity with the sporting lifestyle. Another work on offer by the artist is a recently discovered oil of two setters titled “Over the Fence, and a Point” ($30/50,000).

Previews will be available at Copley’s gallery in Pembroke by live video calls and by arrangement on Copley’s pre-auction roadshow, including the Southeastern Wildlife Expo (SEWE) in Charleston, S.C., on February 14-16. For information, 617-536-0030 or www.copleyart.com.

500 LOTS
Celebrating the Sporting Lifestyle
Zane Grey Fishing Collectables from the Ronald J. Gard Collection including reels, rods, photographs, letters, and more.
James Lippitt Clark (1883-1969), King Buck, 1955, bronze, 9 1/2 by 11 by 5 1/4 in.
The George Secor Decoy Collection to Benefit Delta Waterfowl
William J. Schaldach (1896-1982), Leaping Brook Trout, watercolor, 13 by 16 1/4 in.
Brett James Smith (b. 1958), Lost Then Found (detail), oil on canvas, 40 by 34 in.
Aiden Lassell Ripley (1896-1969), Getting Ready, 1940, watercolor, 19 3/4 by 29 3/4 in.
Bobwhite Quail by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), East Harwich, MA, 1932.
Chipmunks Riding a Rattlesnake Box (detail) by Frank S. Finney (b. 1947), Capeville, VA, 1 of 16 Finney carvings.
Grand Whale Carving by Mark S. McNair (b. 1950) Craddockville, VA, c. 2010, 50 % in. long, 1 of 25 McNair carvings.
PREVIEW THE WINTER SALE 2025 AT COPLEYART.COM
COPLEY FINE ART AUCTIONS, LLC | info@copleyart.com | 617.536.0030
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