Recaps / 2023
Guyette & Deeter November 2023 Decoy & Sporting Art Auction
309
Lots we tracked
$1.30M
Brought, including premium
41%
Sold over the high estimate
$84,000
Top lot — Ward Brothers Pintail
309 lots we track crossed the block, bringing $1,299,120 including premium. 41% of the lots with an estimate beat the high number. The written recap goes out by email after each sale.
Numbers computed from 309 reviewed lots
By maker in this sale
| Maker | Lots | Brought | Typical | Over high est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward Brothers | 34 | $300k | $3,540 | 44% |
| Mason Decoy Factory | 30 | $97k | $1,530 | 33% |
| Elmer Crowell | 26 | $190k | $2,550 | 42% |
| Frank Finney | 26 | $89k | $900 | 42% |
| Mark McNair | 19 | $42k | $1,800 | 74% |
| Ira Hudson | 13 | $33k | $1,800 | 38% |
| Jim Schmiedlin | 10 | $65k | $4,800 | 40% |
| Bill Gibian | 9 | $18k | $1,500 | 56% |
8 of 51 makers in this sale. Typical is the median lot; “over high est.” is the share of lots with an estimate that beat the high number.
Ward Brothers pintailest. $40,000–$60,000$84,000Worth knowing
- RecordBob McGaw — $4,200 is the highest price we have for the maker, passing $810 set in Oct 2023.
- Biggest beatMason Decoy Factory pintail brought 4.2× its high estimate ($1,680 against $400). The John Daddy Holly redhead hen was close behind at 3.7×.
- QuietMark McNair — 19 lots, typical $1,800, 74% over high estimate.
Top lots
- 1Ward Brothers Pintailest. $40,000–$60,000$84,000over estimate
- 2Ward Brothers Sleeping Mallardest. $35,000–$75,000$72,000
- 3Nathan Cobb, Jr. Snipeest. $15,000–$25,000$36,000over estimate
- 4Frank Finney Full Size Standing Otterest. $12,000–$18,000$32,400over estimate
- 5Elmer Crowell Full Size Baltimore Orioleest. $6,000–$9,000$31,200over estimate
- 6Elmer Crowell Scoterest. $20,000–$30,000$30,000
- 7Nathan Cobb, Jr. Brantest. $20,000–$30,000$30,000
- 8Eli Doughty Canada Gooseest. $20,000–$30,000$30,000
Makers in this sale
The written recap goes out by email after each sale.309 lots from this sale are in Decoy Database — the makers we track by hand. Recaps count month-dated lots only.
The recap after every sale
One email after every major decoy auction: what sold, what it brought, which carvers moved.