Sporting

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

For the first time, more than 150 pieces of Donal C. O’Brien, Jr.’s treasured sporting art collection will cross the auction block at Copley’s Sporting Sale, July 27–28.

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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