Jon Deeter and Zac Cote are propelling the world’s leading and most trusted decoy auction firm to new heights
Written by Jonathan Westman | Photography by Jill Jasuta
Over the course of the last 50 years, Alan and Elaine Haid amassed one of the rarest and finest decoy collections in the world. This collection included items ranging from a one-of-a-kind, oversize preening black duck by Robert Elliston to the only known working shoveler hen by the Ward Brothers. When the Haids decided it was time to share their prized possessions with others to enjoy, they entrusted Guyette & Deeter to realize the collection’s potential.
In April, the St. Michaels-based decoy auction firm posted its highest two-day total in its 40-year history, achieving $6.4 million in sales—the highest auction total for a decoy sale in nearly a quarter-century. The historic auction featured decoys and sporting art from the Haids, Jim and Patti Aikin, David Fannon and other renowned aficionados.
When the auction sales were tallied, 15 venerated decoys sold for over $100,000 each—and 100 more brought more than $10,000 each.
This kind of result is the payoff of Guyette & Deeter’s experience, reputation, marketing and innovation. For each of its five annual primary auctions, the firm generates a buzz of anticipation that reverberates to its 12,000 person database across the country. Its meticulous trademark catalogs contain over 300 pages of beautiful photography, complete with background details and values for each item. The catalogs are produced at the company’s St. Michaels headquarters, mailed to more than 1,200 registered buyers before each auction, and are also available locally.
Guyette & Deeter’s home base also serves as its gallery, publishing center, social media studio, warehouse and fulfillment center for its three divisions: Decoys and Sporting Art, Sporting Arms and Weekly Auctions, held online at bid.guyetteanddeeter.com.
“Because we’ve been around since 1984, if we put our stamp of approval on an item for auction and it appears in our catalog, that means a lot to a potential buyer,” says Jon Deeter, who became co-owner of the auction company in 2010. “They know that they do not have to travel to St. Michaels to see or hold the item. They can bid online or by phone with confidence and know that they are acquiring something of quality.”
FRONT AND CENTER
People fly in from all across the country to attend Guyette & Deeter auctions—and its team secures roughly half of all sales by phone.
Ducks In, Ducks Out
Guyette & Deeter also hosts open houses and preview parties in advance of auctions to generate interest and excitement. For those who cannot attend previews, private viewings are arranged in various parts of the country, as well as in the homes of collectors. The firm’s online auction, with about 65 items, closes every Thursday night to encourage new collectors to get started.
Jon was an avid duck hunter, but not a decoy collector, when his wife, Leigh Ann, bought him a bufflehead decoy about 40 years ago. “It was an old, beat-up decoy carved in the 1930s. It was enough to get me hooked,” says Jon. “When you’re given a decoy, it doesn’t have to go on a shelf in a man cave. It’s actually a piece of art. You can decorate with it, live with it and talk about it. That’s just way cooler than stuff from Pottery Barn.“
Having surpassed the $200 million mark in total sales in 2020, and hosting three annual auctions, Cooper Rossner, Jon Deeter and Zac Cote regularly travel the country to attend decoy shows, provide appraisals and scout out collections for upcoming auctions. Their firm holds more world records than all other auction houses combined in the categories of duck and shorebird decoys, fish decoys and plaques, duck and crow calls, decorative carvings and shotshell boxes.
As we recently walked through Guyette & Deeter’s headquarters, we asked Jon about the state of the decoy industry, his thoughts about living on the Eastern Shore and his firm’s association with the Waterfowl Festival.
“I’m bullish on the future of decoy collecting. We are in a time of transition, as newcomers are stepping in and greats are passing away—and we’re selling their collections. But with the new collectors, we’ve not missed a beat in terms of values. We just sold a decoy in April for $480,000. So, the price point support is still there.”
AUCTION AUTHORITY
Jon Deeter addresses the crowd prior to the beginning of the Guyette & Deeter, Inc. auction in Easton, featuring the second part of the Haid Collection.
Tell us our about your headquarters. There appears to be quite a lot of activity taking place at all times throughout the space.
We’ve been here for three years, and you’re right—our team is always on the go. We strategically built our gallery with museum-quality lighting and white walls, so that we can showcase the artwork and show people how to display it. This is a piece that’s in the next auction. It’s carved by Frank Finney, the hottest contemporary carver of folk-art items in the world. It’s a memory box or storage box: a frog family in a canoe talking to a turtle. Just crazy creative stuff. Frank’s been around a long time. I believe he’s 74 years old and lives in Cape Charles. This piece may sell for $45,000 or $50,000. We usually try to have a number of his pieces in the auctions and in the gallery.
This is where the inventory comes and goes—ducks in, ducks out. We have Mike Roberts, who stands there and packs boxes all day long. We maintain the inventory for the catalog sales here and serve as a functioning warehouse. What’s been really fun is that collectors and people that get wind of us and are curious are starting to stop in. Every day, we’ve got public coming in saying, ‘Hey, teach me about this,’ or ‘Can you show me what you have?’”
Is that welcomed?
Absolutely. We’re open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We want a curious, qualified customer to stop in, for sure. That’s part of our mission. We’re trying to create more of a local and regional footprint. And awareness and customer service play major factors in making that
a reality.
Your April auction set a record for your company and established a new industry benchmark. What does the future hold for Guyette & Deeter?
I’m bullish on the future of decoy collecting. We are in a time of transition, as newcomers are stepping in and greats are passing away—and we’re selling their collections. But with the new collectors, we’ve not missed a beat in terms of values. We just sold a decoy in April for $480,000. So, the price point support is still there.
What was so unique about that piece?
It was made by Elmer Crowell. He is the godfather of decoy collecting. People would agree that he’s probably the most important decoy maker of all time. He lived in East Harwich, Massachusetts, and he was a talented artist, making a great array of things from 1890-1940. He made carvings and managed clubs for the wealthy elites at Yale and Harvard. And he must have been fun to hang out with because he spent a lot of time with these individuals and made them carvings, paintings and sculptures, all of which are highly valuable and collectible.
You and Leigh Ann moved to the Shore about four years ago from Northeast Ohio. What resonates with you most personally now about living here?
I really like the feel of the Eastern Shore. It’s rural and yet it’s cultured. When you’re on the Eastern Shore and somebody says, “Hey, Jon. What do you do for a living?” I can actually say, “I sell decoys,” and people know what that means. When we lived in Ohio and had that same conversation, I would just get a glazed stare from people. Usually, my wife would find the nearest exit at that point [laughs].
What are your impressions of the Waterfowl Festival and why will your next auction coincide with the event?
I think Easton is a really cool town and the Waterfowl Festival is unique. I’m really happy about its positioning for the future, and I think we have a great opportunity to expand awareness at the same time.
People fly in from all over the country to attend our auctions—from California, Texas, Florida, New England. Our auctions are like high school reunions with the people you want to be with. People literally plan vacations around our auctions, and we’re thankful for that. I’m looking forward to introducing our collectors to the Festival. I can’t think of a better partner for us to associate with to promote the waterfowl industry, preserving its history and educating people about decoy collecting and our industry. There’s not a better fit for us. Together, we’re going to make a great event even better.