Exceedingly Rare Hollow Coot by Charles Nelson Barnard (1876-1958)

Lot 396

About Seller

20 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
United States

Founded in 2005, Copley Fine Art Auctions is a boutique auction house specializing in antique decoys and American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Over the course of the last two decades, the firm has set auction records for not only individual decoy makers, but also entire carving regions. Copley...Read more

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About Auction

The Winter Sale 2026, Day 2 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2026, Day 2

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Feb 21, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-02-21 10:00:00 2026-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2026, Day 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2026-day-2-22164 Lots 301-368 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Exceedingly Rare Hollow Coot
Charles Nelson Barnard (1876-1958)
Havre de Grace, MD, c. 1920
11 1/2 in. long

"A grandson can remember hunting over a handful of 'me-hen' or coot decoys made by his grandfather [Charles Nelson Barnard]." - Henry Fleckenstein, "Decoys of the Mid-Atlantic Region"

This Susquehanna Flats carver is best known for his high-head canvasback decoys that were used in sinkbox rigs. He is also recognized as one of the few carvers from the region to make hollow decoys, as is found in this rare coot. This high-head, hollow decoy has two-piece body construction and a reared-back head. Despite its age, this carving has retained its bright yellow eyes and a coot-signature red dot on its forehead. C. John Sullivan notes in his Barnard chapter in "Waterfowling on the Chesapeake, 1819-1936," "No one known to me has yet to uncover one of his coot decoys." This is the only Barnard coot known to have come to market, and collectors agree that it is one of the most important coot decoys from any region.
Appears to be in dry, original paint with some early, dark gunning wash and light, even wear.

Provenance: Private Collection, Florida

Literature: Henry A. Fleckenstein Jr., "Decoy of the Mid-Atlantic Region," Exton, PA, 1979, p. 229, Barnard coot rig mentioned. C. John Sullivan, "Waterfowling on the Chesapeake, 1819-1936," Baltimore, MD, 2003, p.133, Barnard coot mentioned.

Condition

Please refer to the description; if you have additional questions, email colin@copleyart.com.
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