Makers / Thomas Gelston / Curlew

Thomas Gelston Hudsonian Curlew

Thomas Gelston (1851-1924) Quogue, Long Island, NY, c. 1880

Thomas Gelston – Hudsonian Curlew – 2025
$7,200
Brought, including buyer's premium
Estimate $7,000–$10,000
Sold Feb 2025at Copley, February 2025

See this lot at Copley →

SpeciesCurlewSize15"PaintOriginal

The catalog record

Thomas Gelston (1851-1924) Quogue, Long Island, NY, c. 1880 15 in. long

A fine high-head example by this highly esteemed Long Island carver. The underside has an O'Brien Collection ink stamp and early collector's notes. Original paint with gunning wear, an old reset neck crack, a small tail chip, and bill appears to be replaced.

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

Literature: Timothy R. Sieger, "The Decoys of Long Island," Water Mill, NY, 2010, p. 29, related decoys illustrated. E. Jane Townsend, "Gunners Paradise; Wildfowling and Decoys on Long Island," Stony Brook, NY, 1979, p. 110, pl. 176-178, similar decoys illustrated.

Provenance

Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection Private Collection

Comparable sales

The 5 most recent Thomas Gelston Curlews to cross the block.

SoldConditionPaintBrought
Jul 2022——$1,080
Mar 2022—Original$7,200
16 Feb 2019—Original$960
Jul 2018—Original$14,400
Jul 2018—Original$5,700

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