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THBThe Johnson Bibber Long-Tail Decoy by Orlando "Os" Bibber (1882-1970)
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
LiveJul 13, 2023
Lots 1-243 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
View Full Catalog (243)
- Lot Description
The Johnson Bibber Long-Tail
Orlando "Os" Bibber (1882-1970)
South Harpswell, ME, c. 1910
16 3/4 in. long
"Bibber's birds are the best carvings on the coast.” - John Dinan, "The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys"
This singular long-tailed drake is not only the finest known Bibber decoy, but along with The Lothrop Holmes Swimming Long-Tail, and The O’Brien Lincoln Long-Tail pair are among the finest decoy examples of the species known. Additionally, this masterwork is considered among the pinnacle decoys produced in the state of Maine. The head carving and overall crispness of this decoy show similarities with Bibber’s peer Joseph Lincoln’s (1859-1938) famous examples (see lot 7). However, it departs from Lincoln dramatically by having an extended and broad body. Bibber’s deceptively simple paint pattern is astutely executed, creating one of the great minimalist presentations in all of Americana.
Excellent original paint with light gunning wear.
Provenance: Private Collection, Maine The Linda E. Johnson Collection, acquired at auction from the above, 2005
Thomas M. Evans Jr. Collection
Literature: Copley Fine Art Auctions, “The Johnson Collection of American Bird Decoys,” July 9, 2021, Hingham, MA, lot 22, exact decoy illustrated.
Guyette & Schmidt Inc., "North American Decoys at Auction," July, 2005, front cover and lot 345, exact decoy illustrated.
Copley Fine Art Auctions, "The Sporting Sale 2010," Plymouth, MA, July 22-23, 2010, lot 726, related hen illustrated.
Robert Shaw, "Bird Decoys of North America," New York, NY, 2010, pp. 62, 145-146, related example illustrated and discussed.
Joe Engers, ed., "The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys," Lewes, DE, 1990, pp. 33-35, related decoy 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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Copley does not offer in-house packing or shipping. For clients who require shipping, please complete the Shipping Release Form and return it with your payment. The form includes a list of shippers we frequently work with.
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