Hilman-McCleery-Muller Turnstone by John Horn

Lot 167

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 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

Live

The Winter Sale 2026, Day 1

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 Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Winter Sale 2026, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-winter-sale-2026-day-1-22120 Lots 1-300 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Hilman-McCleery-Muller Turnstone
John Horn
Oceanville, NJ, c. 1890
9 1/2 in. long

One of approximately seven Horn turnstones in original paint, this is among the finest examples known. Though few exist, Horn's decoys have not escaped the purview of the world's top shorebird collectors, having resided on the shelves of the Noyes, O'Brien, McCleery, Giberson, Headley, Hillman, Muller, and Doherty collections.

A letter from Somers Headley, who as a child knew Horn, adds color to this rig. Headley relays that Horn "robbed picket fences for carving wood, he was shot at tearing apart the fences...After the cedar weathered and cured a couple of years the wood was seasoned and easily carved."

The Hillman-McCleery-Muller example displays pronounced cheek carving, a beautifully contoured body, and a delicate thin tail. This is not only one of the finest Horn shorebirds to come on the market, but one of the finer New Jersey ruddy turnstones.

The underside retains the Hillman, McCleery, and Muller Collection ink stamps.
Original paint with even gunning wear, one-inch bill replacement.

Provenance: John Hillman Collection
Dr. James M. McCleery Collection
Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection
Henry Bishop Collection

Literature: Sotheby's and Guyette and Schmidt, "American Waterfowl Decoys: The Distinguished Collection of Dr. James M. McCleery," New York, NY, January 22-23, 2000, p. 220, lot 606, exact decoy illustrated.

Condition

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