Guyette and Schmidt ST CHARLES Teaser

ST CHARLES, ILL. — Active bidding was once again registered Guyette and Schmidt’s recent decoy auction, April 26 and 27, with shorebirds again eliciting strong prices and claiming top honors. Leading the way was a rare Hudsonian curlew by Long Island carver William Bowman, pictured, that displayed typical characteristics of the carvers elegantly sculpted anatomical style.

In excellent original paint, but with a professional bill replacement, the striking decoy opened for bidding at $100,000 and was soon being hammered down to a buyer in the room for $313,000.

A “dust jacket” plover by Elmer Crowell was bid to $291,000 by Boston dealer Stephen O’Brien Jr, and a small semipalmated plover by Crowell realized $214,000.

Decoys of note included a Charles Perdue sleeping mallard hen that sold for $252,500, and an early John Williams, Cedar Island, Va., ruddy duck brought $159,000.

A marked increase in the price structure for fish decoys was noted with several Lake Chautauqua pieces carved by an unknown maker bringing premium prices. Included was a 6¾-inch brown trout spearing decoy with crosshatched decoration on the painted surface, pictured, that sold for $27,600, a musky spearing decoy brought $26,450, and another brown trout realized $21,850.

A complete report will appear in a future issue.