Atlantic Salmon Model, Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler (1872-1949)

Lot 306

About Seller

65 Sharp Street
Hingham, MA 02043
United States

Copley Fine Art Auctions is the world's leading American sporting art auction company. Located in Hingham, MA, Copley specializes in antique decoys and 19th- and 20th-century American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Principal Stephen O'Brien Jr., a fourth-generation sportsman with a refined colle...Read more

Bid Increments

Price	Bid Increment
$0	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,500	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$25,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000

About Auction

The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 20, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-07-20 10:00:00 2018-07-20 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2018, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2018-day-2-3302 On July 19, Copley Fine Art Auctions will lead off their annual Sporting Sale with 140 lots from the Donal C. O’Brien, Jr. Collection of Important American Sporting Art and Decoys. On July 20 Copley will present an additional 425 lots of decoys, fish carvings, and sporting art. Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

View Full Catalog (425)

Lot Description

Atlantic Salmon Model
Charles E. "Shang" Wheeler (1872-1949)
Stratford, CT 1927
plaque is 17 by 52 in.
inscribed on plaque "Length 42 in. Weight 36 lbs. Caught by J. H. Roraback, Grand Cascapedia, P.Q. June 8th, 1927"

“To those who think of Wheeler primarily as a carver of wildfowl, it will come as a surprise to learn that his decoys are equalled, if not surpassed, by his carved fish. If anything, the fish are more natural and lifelike than the birds, perhaps because fish offer less variety of form and color and therefore are easier to replicate. Wheeler's carved fish are generally unknown because there are so few of them and all are in private hands.” -Dixon M. Merkt, author, "Shang"

A model of a thirty-six-pound, forty-two-inch-long, henfish caught by J. Henry Roraback on the Grand Cascapedia over the course of a two-week-long fishing trip with Senator Fred Wolcott and George Quinion. A trip of a lifetime, Shang, in one day, netted six salmon averaging thirty pounds each.

In "Fish Models, Plaques & Effigies," author Ron Swanson refers to this model as the "pride & joy" of his collection "because of the great decoy connection, its rarity and the fact that it comes from the Author's favorite salmon river - the Grand Cascapedia."

Provenance: Ronald S. Swanson Collection

Literature: Ronald S. Swanson, "Fish Models, Plaques & Effigies," Far Hills, NJ, 2009, p. 190, fig. 328, exact fish illustrated.
Ronald S. Swanson, "Grand Cascapedia Giants," Far Hills, NJ, 2005, p. 92, exact fish illustrated.
Dixon MacD. Merkt, "Shang," Spanish Fork, UT, 1984.

Condition

Condition report requests can be made via email or by telephone (info@copleyart.com or 617.536.0030). Any condition statement given is a courtesy to customers, Copley will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition.
Shipping Info
- Shipping info
  
  Copley Fine Art Auctions does not handle the shipping of any items. Shipping is the sole responsibility of the buyer. Once your payment has cleared, and we have received your authorized shipping release form items may be released for shipment. Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC shall have no liability for any loss or damage to such items. Buyers should allow up to four weeks for shipment.
  
  PLEASE BE AWARE THAT INTERNET BIDDERS MAY NOT PICK UP THEIR ITEMS AT THE SALE SITE. ITEMS CAN BE PICKED UP BY APPOINTMENT OR SHIPPED STARTING FIVE DAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE SALE