On February 21 and 22, Copley’s Winter Sale 2025 realized over $3 million, was over 95% sold by lot, and shot above its high estimate. Bidders participated via phone, absentee bids, the Copley Live app, and two online platforms, Bidsquare and Live Auctioneers. “It was great to see such strength across so many different categories. Whether it was paintings, bronzes, folk art, decoys, fishing tackle, or watches, our specialists once again put together a dynamic sale that was filled with ‘best of kind’ objects,“ reports Copley owner Stephen B. O’Brien Jr.
Copley remains the “go to” firm for selling collections and estates. Bidders clambered for the 32 lots in The Alex and Sherry Chester Collection of Works by Aiden Lassell Ripley, which was 100% sold and bested its high estimate. The Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection was 100% sold with the group of 12 lots exceeding its high estimate. The Ronald J. Gard Collection was well received with 31 of the 36 lots finding buyers and the collection landing squarely within estimate. Meanwhile, the Trenton Spolar MD Collection was 100% sold with all 44 lots finding buyers and the collection also hitting its mid estimate.
Copley continues to be the leader for selling quality decoys. The firm does not sell the most decoys; it sells the best decoys. Since 2018 Copley has sold 7 of the top 10 decoys as well as the top 7 shorebird decoys at auction. At the recent Winter Sale, the firm once again demonstrated its ability to sell the very best shorebird decoys—the top decoy lot was The McCleery Dexter-Gardner Dowitcher Pair by Newton Dexter (1838-1901) and Dr. Clarence T. Gardner (1844-1907), which sold for $222,000, setting a world record for the makers.
Copley has set the majority of the world records for America’s top sporting artists, including A. B. Frost, Ogden Pleissner, Aiden Lassell Ripley, Lynn Bogue Hunt, Thomas Aquinas Daly, David Hagerbaumer, and the list goes on. The top painting in the Winter Sale was a fresh-to-market oil by Percival Rosseau (1859-1937) entitled Over the Fence, and a Point which reached $105,000, more than doubling its high estimate.
In the world of fishing collectables, Copley continues to achieve record results, having sold a salesman’s sample canoe for $25,200, a Bogdan salmon reel for $11,400, and a John Tully Atlantic Salmon Carving for $19,200. In this recent sale, the top fishing collectable lot was Ernest Hemingway’s Tycoon Tackle “Bimini King” which set a new world record for any fishing rod at $58,425.
Copley continues to set the bar for the industry by publishing accurate descriptions and post-auctions results. As always, our results are published immediately following the auctions on our online platforms, Copley Live, Bidsquare, and Live Auctioneers. For a full list of the prices realized, click here. Copley’s database of over 17,500 decoy and sporting art results achieved over the past 18 years underscores the firm’s commitment to transparency and allows clients to make educated buying and selling decisions.
The Sporting Sale 2025 will take place in July. In the coming months Copley’s team is traveling throughout the US conducting consignment pick-ups and free and confidential walk-throughs in the following states: Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Below are highlights of the sale along with images. We would appreciate any coverage in your media outlets. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like high-resolution images and additional information.
The top decoy lot was The McCleery Dexter-Gardner Dowitcher Pair by Newton Dexter (1838-1901) and Dr. Clarence T. Gardner (1844-1907), which sold for $222,000, setting a world record for the makers.
Copley’s inaugural watch lot, a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726/1A Wristwatch, went off with a bang, landing at $75,000, approaching its $85,000 high estimate.
A fresh-to-market oil by Percival Rosseau (1859-1937) entitled Over the Fence, and a Point reached $105,000, more than doubling its high estimate.
Walter Matia’s bronze, Mixed Double, reached a record-setting $30,000.
Getting Ready by Aiden Lassell Ripley (1896-1969) bested its high estimate on its way to $84,000.
Two bobwhite quail lots by A. Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), both pictured in Elmer Crowell: Father of American Bird Carving, hammered to the same bidder with the two birds realizing $138,000.
The top etching of the sale, The Gunner by Frank W. Benson (1862-1951), hit $19,200.
Frank Finney’s Chipmunks Riding a Rattlesnake Box attracted bidders’ attention on its way to striking $43,750.
Ernest Hemingway’s Tycoon Tackle “Bimini King” set a new world record for any fishing rod at $58,425.
Zane Grey’s “Hardy–Zane Grey” Reel shot above its high estimate to $15,990.
A rare J. A. Coxe Reel owned and fished by Zane Grey achieved its $12,000 high estimate.
Mark McNair’s Hollow Preening Great Blue Heron set a new world record for the maker when it reached $38,400.
One of the maker’s best carvings to ever come to market, Steve Weaver’s Kingfisher not surprisingly set a new world record, hovering to $15,000.
David A. Maass’ oil on board entitled Flash of Color – Wood Ducks leapt to $20,400.
Mark McNair’s Grand Whale Carving rose to $24,000.
A Salmon Fly Reel by Stan Bogdan cruised past its high estimate to $7,380.
The Hooded Merganser by Crisfield carver Lloyd Tyler (1898-1970) shot just over its low estimate on its way to $108,000.