A Look at a Once-in-a-Lifetime Decoy Auction

Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. amassed one of the world’s finest collections of decoys.

Ernest Hemingway likely shot over this decoy while visiting Italy. Long-Billed Curlew, by Christo Earnest; Burano, Italy, c. 1900

Estimate: $2,500-3,500

Brook Trout Decoy, by Oscar W. Peterson; Cadillac, MI, c. 1930

Estimate: $2,000-4,000

English Pintail Drake, by John English; Florence, NJ, c. 1880

Estimate: $80,000-120,000

Exceedingly Early Root-Head Merganser, by Roger Williams; Long Island, NY, c. 1790

Estimate: $3,000-6,000

Wood Duck Drake, by Thomas Chambers; Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, c. 1900
Estimate: $80,000-120,000

A book featuring the Chambers wood duck on the cover.

McCleery-Ward Canvasback Hen and Drake, by the Ward Brothers, Lemuel T. and Stephen; Crisfield, MD, c. 1932

Estimate: $20,000-30,000

Break of Day—Pintails, by Roland H. Clark; 1935

Estimate: $20,000-30,000

Barber-O’Brien Ruddy Duck, by Lee Dudley; Knotts Island, NC, c. 1895

Estimate: $80,000-120,000

Frog Decoy

Estimate: $1,000-2,000

Matthews Rig Turned-Head Dowitcher; Chincoteague, VA, c. 1890

Estimate: $25,000-35,000

Donal C. O’Brien, Jr.’s fireplace.

Classic Mallard Drake, by the Ward Brothers, Lemuel T. and Stephen; Crisfield, MD, c. 1936

Estimate: $12,000-18,000

Salmon Head Stirrup Cup, by Derby Porcelain; England, 1850

Estimate: $600-900

Virginian Partridge, (No. 16, Plate LXXVI), after John James Audubon; 1830

Estimate: $10,000-20,000

Canvas-Covered Long-Tailed Duck, by Lothrop Turner Holmes; Kingston, MA, c. 1855

Estimate: $30,000-50,000

Bay Snipe Shooting, by Arthur Burdett Frost; 1900

Estimate: $30,000-50,000

Turned-Dead “Dust Jacket” Black-Bellied Plover, by A. Elmer Crowell; East Harwich, MA, c. 1900

Estimate: $125,000-175,000

One of O’Brien’s guides sets out decoys.

Canvasback Drake, by Taylor Boyd; Perryville, MD, c. 1900

Estimate: $4,000-6,000

O’Brien training Labrador retrievers.

Calling Ruddy Turnstone; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, c. 1880

Estimate $12,000-18,000

Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. hunting with Jimmy Carter.

Bufflehead Drake, by Charles E. Jester; Chincoteague, VA, c. 1900

Estimate: $7,000-10,000