Arts

Southern Highlights at Copley Fine Art Auctions Winter Sale

With a circa 1870 Virginia swimming brant from the Milton Christian Weiler decoy collection, a pair of flying canvasbacks by the famed Ward brothers of Maryland, and an array of arresting bird miniatures from the artist Frank S. Finney of Capeville, Virginia, the Copley Fine Art Auctions Winter Sale offers Southern highlights aplenty. Each year, the Massachusetts-based auction house puts up some of the finest finds in sporting art from collections all over the country. Already previewed at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, South Carolina, Copley’s virtual auction opens on March 4, with the first day’s lots offering an Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait dog scene, a set of Mark S. McNair curlews, and miniatures of bald eagles, owls, woodcock, and grouse. Day two will see Chet Reneson and more Ogden M. Pleissner watercolor scenes, plus a generous helping of Crowell stunners. Last year, a Crowell bobwhite quail pair went for $221,400, and Copley recorded its best winter sale yet, but this year’s 556 lots of decoys, paintings, and sculptures might just top it. Click here for more auction details and to see the entire catalog.

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Lot 251
Virginia Swimming Brant
Northampton County, Virginia, c. 1870
$45,000-$65,000

Lot 251

Virginia Swimming Brant

Northampton County, Virginia, c. 1870

$45,000-$65,000

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 227
The Ward Brothers, “High-Tail” Mallard Hen
Crisfield, Maryland
$4,000-$6,000

Lot 227

The Ward Brothers, “High-Tail” Mallard Hen

Crisfield, Maryland

$4,000-$6,000

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 275
Frank S. Finney, miniature Bluebird
Capeville, Virginia, c. 2020

Lot 275

Frank S. Finney, miniature Bluebird

Capeville, Virginia, c. 2020

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 61
Frank S. Finney, Miniature Pheasant 
Capeville, Virginia, c. 2020

Lot 61

Frank S. Finney, Miniature Pheasant 

Capeville, Virginia, c. 2020

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 207 
Mark A. Susinno, Always on the Move
2021
$7,000-$10,000

Lot 207 

Mark A. Susinno, Always on the Move

2021

$7,000-$10,000

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 110
Early Canada Goose Pair
Portsmouth Island, North Carolina, c. 1879

Lot 110

Early Canada Goose Pair

Portsmouth Island, North Carolina, c. 1879

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 73
Ogden M. Pleissner, Golden Hours
1953 
$10,000-$20,000

Lot 73

Ogden M. Pleissner, Golden Hours

1953 

$10,000-$20,000

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 232
Oliver “Tuts” Lawson, Whistling Swan
Crisfield, Maryland,1985
$5,000-$7,000

Lot 232

Oliver “Tuts” Lawson, Whistling Swan

Crisfield, Maryland,1985

$5,000-$7,000

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 394
Phillip Rickman, Autumn Sunshine–Woodcock
1964

Lot 394

Phillip Rickman, Autumn Sunshine–Woodcock

1964

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Lot 55
Mark S. McNair, miniature Running Long-Billed Curlew
Craddockville, Virginia, c. 2015

Lot 55

Mark S. McNair, miniature Running Long-Billed Curlew

Craddockville, Virginia, c. 2015

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions

Charles “Shang” Wheeler, Rockefeller Wood Duck Pair
Stratford, CT, c. 1935
$100,000 – $200,000

Charles “Shang” Wheeler, Rockefeller Wood Duck Pair

Stratford, CT, c. 1935

$100,000 – $200,000

Photo: Copley Fine Art Auctions