In New England, every summer we unfurl the sails, dust off the golf shoes, break out the fishing rods, and with a little luck, dine on freshly caught seafood. The seasonal changes as the coastal waters warm are palpable. The days get longer, the nights a little warmer, and we embrace all that summer has to offer. This July, I encourage you to come to Plymouth and partake in the summer sporting lifestyle that surrounds Copley’s annual fine and folk art celebration – The Sporting Sale 2012. Sample fresh local Island Creek Oysters, taste the area’s microbrews, and enjoy the some of the best wine made on earth from our good friends at Chatham Vineyards of Virginia’s eastern shore. Hit the beaches, museums and golf courses and soak up the
rich history, heritage, and entertainment offered on Boston’s South Shore. There is no substitute for the exciting atmosphere of the sale room, exhibitor tables, seeing featured artist Luke Frazier (b. 1970), and the tremendous camaraderie of the decoy and sporting art collecting community. However, if for some reason you can’t make it to Plymouth, Copley has you covered, with numerous ways to participate, bid and follow all the auction action.

This year’s sale of over 650 items encompasses many of the things that we as hunters, fishermen, conservationists, and wildlife lovers hold dear. Copley is proud to offer seven oil paintings by Carl Rungius (1869-1959), including majestic Wapiti, that was part of C. Gordon Hewitt’s 1921 landmark call to protect the native species of North America, especially the big game animals that Rungius celebrates so well. An early forty-five pound Atlantic salmon carving by master carver John Tully (1862-1931) painted by his wife Dhuie Tully (1862-1950) commemorates a trophy catch of a lifetime. Friedrick Wilhelm Kuhnert’s (1865-1926) remarkable oil, Roused, A Tiger and Tigress gives us pause to think about the lord of the jungle, of which there are just a few thousand remaining in the wild. The long lost Shang Wheeler mallard carving that headlined the 1948 National Decoy Makers Contest and Exhibition will once again spread its wings to the market. And these items just scratch the surface.

I invite you kick back in your favorite chair with a glass of wine or sparkling water and browse through the hundreds of pages of top-notch paintings, prints, folk art, decoys, and Americana that our specialists have assembled. At Copley we honor the
sporting and conservation traditions passed down through the generations. We take our role as stewards of the sea, land and historic objects very seriously and are thrilled to align ourselves with and share in the missions of organizations like The Atlantic Salmon Federation, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Mass Audubon, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Shelburne Museum, and Ward Museum.

As always, we are dedicated to providing personal attention to each buyer and seller and view our reputation as our most important asset. If there is anything we can do to make your travel and stay in Plymouth easier, please do not hesitate to contact
us. We look forward to warmly welcoming you in Plymouth and hope that this year’s Sporting Sale will continue to provide you the thrill of the hunt.

Sincerely,
Stephen B. O’Brien, Jr.
Chairman

The Sporting Sale 2012, July 12-13
The Radisson Hotel
180 Water Street
Plymouth, MA

For auction information, please visit Copley Fine Art Auctions.