Important Long-Billed Curlew Pair Thomas Gelston (1851-1924)

Lot 218

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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Feb 16, 2018 - Feb 17, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-02-16 11:00:00 2018-02-17 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2952 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Important Long-Billed Curlew Pair
Thomas Gelston (1851-1924)
Quogue, Long Island, NY, c. 1890
19 1/2 in. long

Thomas Gelston shorebird decoys in original paint are hard to come by and are prized by collectors. In fact, among all of the exceptional shorebirds and waterfowl from Long Island, it is a Gelston curlew that holds the region’s auction record. This grand, full-bodied, long-billed curlew pair showcases the maker’s animated poses, raised wings, and bold paint patterns. This dynamic pair reflects one bird in a content posture and the other alert.

The high-head decoy has the Shelburne Museum inventory code “27.FD 19.7” under the tail. A related serial number is on lot 222, the Shourds curlew in this sale.

The tucked-head decoy is out of John Levinson’s collection, the author of Shorebirds: The Birds, The Hunters, The Decoys. Original paint with gunning wear, replaced bills, touch-up to reset neck on high head, and an age line in neck of tucked head.

Provenance: Shelburne Museum Collection (high head)
Shelburne Museum Collection (high head) John and Elizabeth Levinson Collection (tucked head)
Grant Nelson Collection (both)

Literature: Christie's, "The Russell B. Aitken Collection of Waterfowl Decoys," New York, NY, 2003, p. 123, lot 1307, related decoy illustrated.
Quintina Colio, "American Decoys," Ephrata, PA, 1972, p. 54 and front cover, related example illustrated.
Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, p. 182, related examples illustrated.

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.
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