Makers / John Dilley / Shorebird (other)

John Dilley Red Knot

John Dilley Quogue, Long Island, NY, c. 1890

John Dilley – Red Knot – 2018
$3,600
Brought, including buyer's premium
Estimate $3,000–$5,000
Sold Jul 2018at Copley, July 2018

See this lot at Copley →

SpeciesShorebird (other)Size10.25"PaintOriginalSignedyes

The catalog record

John Dilley Quogue, Long Island, NY, c. 1890 10 1/4 in. long

The underside of this well documented robin snipe decoy is signed "Dilley." Original paint with even gunning wear and flaking.

Provenance: Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection

Literature: Adele Earnest, "The Art of the Decoy: American Bird Carvings," New York, NY, 1965, p. 60, pl. 41 and 156, exact decoy illustrated. Laurence Sheehan, "The Sporting Life," New York, NY, 1992, p. 80, exact decoy illustrated. Laurence Sheehan, "The Birding Life," New York, NY, 2011, p. 95, exact decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Donal C. O'Brien, Jr. Collection

Comparable sales

The 5 most recent John Dilley other shorebirds to cross the block.

SoldConditionPaintBrought
Jul 2025—Original$2,400
Jul 2021—Original$27,600
25 Jul 2019—Original$19,200
Jul 2018—Original$9,000
Jul 2018—Repaint$900

Same maker and species, most recent first. Prices include the buyer's premium. All John Dilley sales