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THBExceptional Preening Mallard Hen by Bert Graves (1880-1956)
Lot 178
About Seller
Copley Fine Art Auctions
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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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$25,000 - $35,000
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About Auction
Live
By Copley Fine Art Auctions
Feb 20, 2026
Set Reminder
2026-02-20 10:00:00
2026-02-20 10:00:00
America/New_York
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Lots 1-300 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
Lots 1-300 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com
View Full Catalog (298)
- Lot Description
Exceptional Preening Mallard Hen
Bert Graves (1880-1956)
Peoria, IL, c. 1920
14 1/2 in. long
Graves built the Graves Decoy Company out of the workshop behind his home. Upon the death of Robert Elliston in 1915, Graves purchased Elliston's entire business including wood, patterns, tools, and commissioned rigs. He also astutely hired Catherine Elliston to continue painting decoys for his company. As with fellow Illinois River masters Elliston and Perdew, Graves produced preeners and this graceful form is the most coveted by collectors today.
Graves sold decoys to affluent hunters and to sporting goods stores for the handsome sum of $75-100 per dozen and his decoys today continue to demand a premium among collectors.
This Illinois River hollow preener is one of the finest Graves decoys known. The original paint was applied by Catherine Elliston and it is among the best seen on any mallard hen. This decoy was never rigged. When considering the exceptional form, paint, and condition, it is possible this decoy was made as a salesman's sample.
A closely related example has become an icon of the Peoria Riverfront Museum's Center for American Decoys, appearing on not only promotional material but also the front dust jacket cover of "American Decoy: The Invention." This book documented one of the greatest decoy exhibits of all time.
Exceptional original paint with appealing craquelure and light wear.
Provenance: Private Collection, Midwest
Literature: Zac Zetterberg, ed., "American Decoy: The Invention," Peoria, IL, 2020, p. 76 and front dust-jacket cover, related decoy illustrated. Stephen O'Brien and Julie Carlson, "Masterworks of the Illinois River," Boston, MA, 2005, p. 98, related decoy illustrated. Donna Tonelli, "Fish and Fowl of the Great Lakes," Atglen, PA, 2002, p. 120, related decoy illustrated. Joe Engers, ed., "The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys," San Diego, CA, 1990, p. 232, related decoy illustrated.Please refer to the description; if you have additional questions, email colin@copleyart.com.Condition
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