The Sporting Sale 2006
At the historic Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Copley Fine Art Auctions held a highly successful inaugural sporting art and waterfowl decoy auction on July 26 and 27, 2006. The near-400 lot sale stirred collectors’ interest with superb examples of American paintings, folk art, decoys, and fishing collectibles. The two-day sale proved a resounding success with a total exceeding $2.4 million.
The top lot was an outstanding river scene by New England impressionist Frank W. Benson (1862-1951). The 1927 oil on canvas, titled Salmon Fishing, was competitively bid up to $747,500 (see image at right). Leading the decoy lots was a finely-carved greater yellowlegs by either Charles Summer Bunn (1865-1952) or Bill Bowman (1824-1906). Described as "one of the finest Bunn/Bowman shorebirds known to exist," the well-preserved carving reached $97,750. Other items of interest included a 51” long salesman’s sample canoe attributed to the Penobscot Canoe Company, Old Town, Maine. This beautiful canoe, in near-mint condition, brought $17,250.
Frank W. Benson
(1862-1951)
Salmon Fishing
Oil
Sold for $747,500
Greater Yellowlegs
Charles Summer Bunn (1865-1952) or Bill Bowman (1824-1906)
Sold for $97,750
51 Inch long Salesman’s Sample Canoe
Attributed to the Penobscot Canoe Company, Old Town, ME, c. 1919
Sold for $17,250