Makers / Ben Schmidt / Mallard

Ben Schmidt Exceedingly Rare Preening Mallard Hen

Benjamin Schmidt (1884-1968) Centerline, MI, c. 1930

Ben Schmidt – Exceedingly Rare Preening Mallard Hen – 2021
$840
Brought, including buyer's premium
Sold Feb 2021at Copley, February 2021

See this lot at Copley →

SpeciesMallardConfigHenPosePreenerSize16"PaintOriginal

The catalog record

Benjamin Schmidt (1884-1968) Centerline, MI, c. 1930 16 in. long

Preening decoys by Schmidt are seldom seen; this is one of his few preening puddle ducks to have surfaced at auction in recent history. Original paint with gunning wear.

Provenance: Len Carnaghi Collection

Literature: Lowell Jackson, ed., “Ben J. Schimdt: A Michigan Decoy Carver, 1884-1968,” Birmingham, MI, 1970, p. 20, closely related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Len Carnaghi Collection

Comparable sales

The 5 most recent Ben Schmidt Mallards to cross the block.

SoldConditionPaintBrought
10 Oct 2026—Original$240
Jul 2026MintOriginal$2,400
Jul 2026Mint—$1,200
May 2026—Original$420
Apr 2026—Original$1,020

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