The Winter Sale 2024
This Winter sale was exciting. New bidders continued to flood the market providing stability in many sectors. Despite the tremors that continue in the six-figure decoy market, first-rate Ward Brothers, Illinois River, Mason, Contemporary, and West Coast decoy results were solid. It was also great to see the recently overlooked Benson painting market starting to show some signs of life.
The auction realized $2.25 million, with the 442 sold lots shooting above their collective high estimate. The top decoys were the Ward Pintail pair, bringing over $211,000, placing them among the top results ever for Maryland decoys. The Masterworks of the Illinois River Collection also excelled with 18 of the 28 sold lots exceeding their high estimate and the balance landing squarely within estimate.
Copley continues to be the leader for selling quality decoys. In 2022 Copley sold nine of the top ten decoys at auction. In 2023 Copley posted the top seven decoys at auction. Additionally, Copley has yielded consignors the highest average price per decoy lot eight of the last ten years … you get the picture; Copley does not sell the most decoys; we sell the best decoys.
On the fine art side, several works by Frank W. Benson came straight from the Benson family. The Eagles soared to $210,000 and the Florida fishing watercolor realized $168,000, which was the highest price at auction for any Benson watercolor since The White Canoe sold at a New York firm for a world record $187,000 over twenty years ago. Copley has now sold three of the top four Benson watercolors to ever come up at auction.
The Sporting art field continues to see steady growth. While many other fields rise and fall out of fashion depending on the dealers, collectors, and auction firms that push their short-term agendas, there is an orderliness and long-play aura to our market that is undeniable.