Hollow Coffin Curlew Decoy by Charles F. Coffin (1835-1919)

Lot 362

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

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About Auction

The Winter Sale 2023, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2023, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 25, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-02-25 10:00:00 2023-02-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2023, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2023-day-2-11942 Lots 338-657 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Hollow Coffin Curlew
Charles F. Coffin (1835-1919)
Nantucket, MA, c. 1870
15 in. long

Many of Nantucket's very finest decoy rigs can be linked to a triumvirate of attributed makers, C. F. Coffin, The Folgers, and Mr. Webster. This stately and very early three-piece hollow curlew decoy demonstrates the apex of Charles Fredrick Coffin's rig.

This grand decoy emanating from the famous Coffin rig has only two known peers. The Donal C. O'Brien Jr. Collection possesses one which was chosen for Dr. Paul Johnsgard's 1970s book and exhibition "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form." The only other known example was held in the premier shorebird decoy collection of Grant Nelson, and in 2020 that closely related example achieved a world-record result for any Nantucket decoy at auction. The striking features of this decoy and its two rigmates are distinct from other Nantucket curlew, most notably their featherlight construction and tight stippled paint.

This decoy has remained on Nantucket since it was made one hundred and fifty years ago. Prior to being sourced by O'Brien Sr. it resided downtown on Main Street in the historic Henry Coffin (1807-1900) House, so named for Charles' father. Other decoys from this house are now owned by the Nantucket Historical Association, and are exhibited at the NHA's flagship Whaling Museum.
Original paint with light gunning wear, touch-up to bill insert and replaced bill.

Provenance: Coffin Family Rig and Collection, Nantucket
The Stephen B. O'Brien Sr. Collection

Literature: Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Sporting Sale 2020," Hingham, MA, lot 191, Nelson Collection rigmate illustrated. Paul A. Johnsgard, "The Bird Decoy: An American Art Form," Lincoln, NE, 1976, p. 157, pl. 179, Donal O'Brien Collection rigmate illustrated.

Condition

Please email condition report requests to colin@copleyart.com. 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
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