The Winter Sale 2020

Duck hunters use confidence decoys to lull their prey into a false sense of security. These decoys are not modeled after ducks, but instead other birds that a duck would encounter in an everyday environment, such as a goose or swan. A 1920 swan confidence decoy carved by Charles Birch is among the featured lots in the upcoming Winter Sale 2020, presented by Copley Fine Arts Auctions. The swan comes to auction in its original condition. This is considered unusual because most Birch decoys of this period were repainted after continuous use.

Decoy collectors can also consider a pair of hooded mergansers carved by Ira Hudson. Hudson was among the first decoy makers to realize that patrons were buying his work not only to hunt birds but also for home decoration. He began adding details to his decoys to satisfy collectors. This style change can be seen in the available pair of hooded mergansers, in particular with the female merganser’s crest.

Beyond decoys, the Winter Sale 2020 also offers books and fine art related to hunting and birdwatching. Among these lots is a complete second edition of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America (1856). The book’s second edition included more species and reorganized Audubon’s observations. The second edition also marked the first time that Audubon’s research became widely available to the public. This copy was previously owned by Quaker businessman Charles Evans, whose inscription marks the book’s front page. Also included in this lot with The Birds of America are the three volumes of Audubon and Rev. John Bachman’s The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America (1856). Register to bid for this event on Bidsquare.