Our Story

Copley specializes in antique decoys and 19th- and 20th-century American, sporting, and wildlife paintings.

Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC was founded in 2005 on the principles of knowledge, integrity, results, and a strict adherence to confidentiality. Principal Stephen O'Brien Jr., a fourth-generation sportsman with a refined collector's eye, launched Copley Fine Art Auctions after almost fifteen years in the antiques trade. A trusted advisor to leading collectors and institutions, O'Brien opened Stephen O'Brien Jr. Fine Arts, LLC in 1996, and Copley was a natural evolution for O'Brien, and a means of providing yet another arm of services to his clients.

Copley’s guiding mission is to work hand in hand with individuals and estates to accommodate their collecting and deaccessioning needs. Whether working with knowledgeable clients to build world-class collections or helping families with difficult trust, estate, and appraisal questions, the personal attention our clients receive enables them to achieve their individual goals. No two collections are alike, and, as such, we create marketing and sales plans that are right for each collection. Our business approach is to treat our customers the way we would like to be treated. We offer quality items in a simple, down-to-earth fashion that befits the sporting art tradition.

“In 2005, O’Brien founded Copley Fine Art Auctions, which quickly established itself as the leading auction house for sporting art.”

— Judy Penz Sheluk, New England Antiques Journal, April 2011

Copley Achievements