The Winter Sale 2016
Copley continued to build its market share with robust bidding across all categories, including Wildlife, Sporting, Decoy, and Folk Art. In just 10 years, the market has placed Copley as a clear industry leader known for publishing informed catalog descriptions, setting record prices, and posting accurate sales results. The auction achieved $2 million in sales and saw an impressive 90% of lots sold.
Nine of the top ten paintings were launched, with Carl Rungius’ Bull Moose oil leading the way at $180,000, within its $150/250,000 estimate (see image on right). American paintings also found eager buyers, with Andrew Wyeth’s Pot Buoys selling for $90,000 on its $70/80,000 estimate and A. B. Frost’s classic watercolor The Music for the Dance bringing $60,000, double its high estimate.
Copley has dominated the high-end decoy market since 2009, having sold 14 of the top 24 decoy lots at auction, more than all other firms combined. In this sale, 9 of the top 10 decoy lots found buyers. The top bird carving was George Boyd’s swimming Canada goose, which sold for $90,000 on its $50/70,000 estimate. The second highest was the Ward Brothers’ Canada goose, landing at $69,000, within its $60/80,000 estimate, and A. E. Crowell’s Ruffed Grouse brought $63,000, well above its $35/45,000 estimate.
Single-owner collections performed exceptionally well, with Session Three of the Purnell Collection achieving a 100% sell-through rate. In addition, The William B. Webster III Sporting Art Collection was also 100% sold, landing well above its high estimate.
Swimming Canada Goose
George Boyd
Sold for $90,000
Ruffed Grouse
A. Elmer Crowell
Sold for $63,000
Aiden Lassell Ripley
(1896-1969)
Woodcock by the Brook, c. 1948
oil on canvas, 26 1/2 by 39 1/2 in.
Sold for $60,000
Canada Goose
The Ward Brothers
Sold for $69,000