On July 10 and 11, Copley Fine Art Auctions, the nation’s premier decoy and sporting art auction house, will hold its twentieth-annual Sporting Sale, coming after the firm’s record-setting $3-million Winter Sale. This major auction, and its accompanying 300-page, full-color catalog, will feature over 600 lots of decoys, bird carvings, paintings, bronzes, prints, fishing tackle, and folk art. Veteran auctioneer Peter Cocculuto will once again be on the podium with the gavel. The live-streamed auction will offer phone, absentee, and internet bidding on Copley Live as well as two other online platforms. The auction will begin at 10 am on both Thursday and Friday.
Flying Grouse ($15/25,000) by Frank W. Benson (1862-1951). A survey of Faith Andrews Bedford’s well-researched The Sporting Art of Frank W. Benson reveals only a handful of upland bird paintings, with none earlier or finer than this 21 by 30 in. watercolor.
The auction will include top works by sporting artists Frank W. Benson (1862-1951), Ogden M. Pleissner (1905-1983), Aiden Lassell Ripley (1896–1969), Roy Martell Mason (1886-1972), George Browne (1918-1958), Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878-1960), William Goadby Lawrence (1913-2002), and Edmund Henry Osthaus (1958-1928). Paintings by noted contemporary artists, such as Ewoud de Groot, Brett Smith, Chet Reneson, David A. Maass, Luke Frazier, Thomas Aquinas Daly, and Mike Stidham, will also cross the block. The Sporting Sale will showcase exceptional sporting art bronzes by Walter Matia (b. 1953), William J. Koelpin (1938-1996), Winston G. Churchill (1939-2023), and Liz Lewis (b. 1976).
Copley is honored to offer properties from: Alex Chester Collection, Curt Mettam Collection, William C. McMaster M.D. Collection, Trenton Spolar M.D. Collection, Jeff and Joyce Hay Collection, Don Kirson Collection, A Descendant of Barrie and Bernice Stavis, Estate of Gerald W. Hazard M.D., Cathy McCleery Bauguss Estate, Peter
Carton Collection, William Zimmerman Collection, and private collections in CA, CT, FL, IL, IN, KS, MD, MA, MS, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TX, and VA.
Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878-1960), The “Pilar” Fights a Blue Marlin Off Cuba North Coast, Ernest Hemingway, oil on canvas, 22 by 18 in. ($25/35,000) This painting, depicting Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest American outdoor writers and sportsmen of all time, painted by his good friend Hunt, is one of the most important angling works to ever be offered for sale.
Copley Principal Stephen O’Brien Jr. reports, “In addition to offering a smashing lineup of decoys and Sporting art, we are thrilled to follow up on the Winter Sale 2025’s world-record fishing rod with another important Hemingway work in this auction.” O’Brien is referring to a painting entitled The “Pilar” Fights a Blue Marlin Off Cuba North Coast, Ernest Hemingway ($25/35,000). This oil, depicting Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest American outdoor writers and sportsmen of all time, painted by his good friend, famed illustrator Lynn Bogue Hunt, is one of the most important angling works ever to be offered for sale.
Ogden M. Pleissner (1905-1983), Le Cran Serré—Moisie River, watercolor, 18 by 28 in. ($30/50,000)
The auction’s Sporting art on offer includes Le Cran Serré – Moisie River ($30/50,000) by Ogden M. Pleissner (1905-1983). This crisp, bright watercolor depicts fly fishing for Atlantic salmon at one of the most famous pools on the renowned Moisie River. Bill Taylor, past president of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, explains, “Pleissner was a regular guest at the Moise Salmon Club. The Moise is one of the world’s great salmon rivers and the Cran Serré is one of the river’s greatest pools.” Other top fine art highlights include Deuces Are Wild ($18/24,000) by Walter Matia. This dynamic, life-size depiction of wild turkeys is among the artist’s finest works. It is also one of Matia’s most well known and viewed subjects as a life-size trio version is exhibited on the grounds of the National Wildlife Art Museum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as well as at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. Another pinnacle work is Flying Grouse ($15/25,000) by Frank W. Benson (1862-1951). A survey of Faith Andrews Bedford’s well-researched The Sporting Art of Frank W. Benson reveals only a handful of upland bird paintings, with none earlier or finer than this watercolor.
Walter Matia (b. 1953), Deuces Are Wild, bronze, 38 by 53 by 25 in. ($18/24,000). This dynamic, life-size depiction of wild turkeys is among the artist’s finest works.
Copley Fine Art Specialist Leah Tharpe reports, “This sale features a wide variety of fine art, with major works that are fresh-to-market like Lynn Bogue Hunt’s painting of Ernest Hemingway’s boat, the Pilar, a fine selection of contemporary artwork created by our talented stable of artists, such as Walter Matia, Ewoud de Groot, and Luke Frazier, and something for everyone with the sporting art greats, such as Aiden Ripley, Ogden Pleissner, Milton Weiler, and David Hagerbaumer, well-represented in over 200 lots of paintings, bronzes, and works on paper.”
The Sporting Sale 2025 will feature iconic, never-before-offered decoys from the William J. Mackey Jr. and Dr. James M. McCleery Collections, as well as legendary carvings that once resided in the famous collections of Purnell, Starr, Hillman, O’Brien, Nelson, Brams, Hunter, Stavis, and Bob White.
“A review of the decoys in this auction shows staggering provenance,” notes Copley decoy specialist Colin S. McNair. “In addition to the breadth of premier early collections represented, our team is debuting the Carton Collection discovery of birds acquired from William J. Mackey Jr. in the early 1950s, including masterworks from Virginia to New Jersey. Getting the call from a descendant of James McCleery to represent the last birds from his historic collection was a great honor, led by the Wilson scoter that Dr. McCleery placed alongside his famous eider in the first spread of Call to the Sky. Southern treasures that once resided in The William H. Purnell Jr. Collection are also major highlights of the auction, with premier works leading an all-star lineup of masterworks by Ira Hudson, Dave “Umbrella” Watson, and the Ward Brothers.”
The Sporting Sale 2025 will feature an Exceptional Purnell-Hudson Merganser Pair ($150/250,000) by Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949).
Leading the bird carvings on offer is the Exceptional Purnell-Hudson Merganser Pair ($150/250,000) by Ira D. Hudson (1873-1949). Also carved on the island of Chincoteague, VA, is The Purnell-Watson Pintail Pair ($125/175,000) by Dave “Umbrella” Watson (1851-1939). Watson is among the most distinct and revered of all Southern decoy makers and this pintail duo remains his best known pair extant. From the esteemed shelves of Dr. George Ross Starr, Ronald J. Gard, Dr. Lloyd T. Griffith, and Don Kirson,
The Purnell-Watson Pintail Pair ($125/175,000) by Dave “Umbrella” Watson (1851-1939). Watson is among the most distinct and revered of all Southern decoy makers and this pintail duo remains his best known pair extant.
The Starr Osgood Merganser Hen ($75/125,000) by Capt. Charles C. Osgood (1820-1886) boasts impeccable provenance. McNair notes, “The Starr Osgood Merganser hen is the only bird of this form residing outside of a museum. Indeed, the majority of Osgood’s few surviving decoys are held by institutions.”
The Ward Brothers’ Outstanding Purnell Pintail Pair ($60/90,000) will also cross the block. This duo exhibits what is considered the makers’ most classic design, the 1936 model. The pair’s weights have been removed and they appear to have never seen the water, remaining in near-mint condition as they would have appeared on Lem’s painting bench.
From the esteemed shelves of Dr. George Ross Starr, Ronald J. Gard, Dr. Lloyd T. Griffith, and Don Kirson, Copley is pleased to offer The Starr Osgood Merganser Hen ($75/125,000) by Capt. Charles C. Osgood (1820-1886).
At the upcoming Sporting Sale, a goose decoy is being debuted to the modern collecting community after spending seventy-five years in a New Jersey estate. The Mackey-Carton Cobb Goose ($60/90,000) by Nathan F. Cobb Jr. (1825-1905) not only demonstrates all of the bold features that define the maker’s style, but also reveals a subtle nuance seldom seen in any Southern decoy. This hollow bird sports a rare inletted head with a huge craw raising from the breast. Local history relays that this bulged chest and low head represented a well-fed and contented bird.
Frank S. Finney (b. 1947), Life After Death: A Woodpecker Tree Mechanical Bank ($25/35,000). Perhaps his greatest undertaking to date, this unique piece shows the artist at the height of not only his creativity, but also his engineering prowess.
A testament to the rich variety of carvings on offer is The Woodpecker Tree Mechanical Bank carved by Frank Finney. Perhaps his greatest undertaking to date, this unique Finney piece, entitled Life After Death ($25/35,000), shows the artist at the height of not only his creativity, but also his engineering prowess. This work is joined by an exceptional lineup of carvings by classic and contemporary makers, including Mark McNair, Cameron McIntyre, Bill Gibian, Bob White, Josh Brewer, Marty Hanson, and Jim Schmiedlin.
Leading the fishing collectibles lineup is The H. M. Royal Fin-Nor 15/0 ($10/20,000) by the Fin-Nor Reel Company of Miami, FL. This rare and early “G” model Fin-Nor reel from 1937 is engraved for H.M. Royal, the founder and head of a successful chemical and compound company in New Jersey. The reel features a sleek internal drag, sliding drag adjustment lever, and a removable second handle. Fin-Nor reels such as this were chosen by the top fishermen of the 1930s to catch the largest marlin, tuna, and other big game fish.
Copley’s live-streamed auctions have dominated the top of the decoy market, and the firm has set the majority of the world records for top decoy regions. Additionally, Copley has set dozens of world records for American and sporting artists, including Ogden Pleissner, Aiden Lassell Ripley, A.B. Frost, Lynn Bogue Hunt, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Chet Reneson, Thomas Aquinas Daly, and William Goadby Lawrence, among others.
Multiple images of the lots on offer in the Sporting Sale 2025 can be viewed through the online bidding catalogs: Copley Live, Bidsquare, and LiveAuctioneers. Print catalogs are for sale at https://www.copleyart.com/auction-catalogs/p/the-sporting-sale-2025. In addition to online bidding, telephone and absentee bidding are also available. For more information, email chelsie@copleyart.com.
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This sale will feature over 600 lots, including decoys, bird carvings, paintings, bronzes, prints, etchings, fishing tackle, and books. The 300-page catalog will mail mid-June, order your copy today.
Copley’s Upcoming Preview & Event Schedule
July 10–11
The Sporting Sale 2025
Thursday, 10:00 am: Lots 1–316
Friday, 10:00 am: Lots 317–638
August 1–3
Ducks Unlimited Expo (DUX)
Renasant Convention Center
255 North Main Street
Memphis, TN
Copley will be exhibiting at this 3-day event.
The H. M. Royal Fin-Nor 15/0, Fin-Nor Reel Co., Miami, FL, 1937, 7 1/2 in. diameter, 5 in. spool width.
George Browne (1918-1958), Pasture Edging – Ruffed Grouse, oil on canvas, 20 by 30 in.
Shorebirds from the John Hillman Collection, a Horner mallard and merganser from the William J. Mackey Jr. Collection, and the earliest known wood duck pair by Lloyd Johnson, also from the Mackey Collection.
Part of an exceptional group of New England decoys from the Kirson, McCleery, and Peter Brams Collections.
A superb selection of decoys by the Ward Brothers, Oliver Lawson, John Graham, and John “Daddy” Holly.
Virginia shorebirds from the William J. Mackey Jr. Collection and pintails from the Bill Purnell and Don Kirson Collections.