 |
 |
|
Noteworthy Sales: Recent Sales by Dealers
|
|
 |
|
Stephen O'Brien, Jr. Fine Arts
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Sales History:
|
|
|
|
Sold in 1986 at Richard Oliver auction, ME, for $319,000
Sold in 2003 at Christie's, NY, for $801,500
Sold in 2007 in private treaty sale through Stephen O'Brien, Jr., for $1.13 million
|
Preening Pintail Drake Decoy
Carved and painted wood, ca. 1915
A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952)
East Harwich, Ma
Sold for a record-setting $1.13 million
Courtesy Stephen O'Brien, Jr. Fine Arts, Boston, Ma
"Dealers and collectors have been guessing which decoy would be the first to reach the million dollar mark," says decoy broker Stephen O'Brien, Jr. With his sale of this drake, and a concurrent sale of a Canada goose (click here), also brokered by O'Brien, the answer lies with both birds -- each sold for $1.13 million.
When sold at Christie's in 2003, deputy chairman John Hays called the decoy "the most important bird in America...by the best maker." Similar praise was echoed by Decoy Magazine editor Joe Engers, "Without a doubt, the [Crowell] pintail drake is the most familiar decoy in the world."
Commenting on the burgeoning decoy market, O'Brien said, "Waterfowl decoys are a uniquely American art form that have moved to the forefront of the folk art market. Both buyers and sellers have recognized their potential and prices are beginning to climb. The Crowell pintail drake is one of the most iconic and famous decoys of all."
|
|
|
|
Antiques and Fine Art is the leading site for antique collectors, designers, and enthusiasts of art and antiques. Featuring outstanding inventory for sale from top antiques & art dealers, educational articles on fine and decorative arts, and a calendar listing upcoming antiques shows and fairs.
|
