Dorset print commands steep price at auction

MIRIAM HILL

The work of Cape Dorset artist Kenojuak Ashevak has graced Canadian stamps and numerous galleries around the world. Now she can add advice columnist to her list of collectors.

At a fine art and antique auction of the late Esther Lederer, known to newspaper readers in North America as advice columnist Ann Landers, Ashevak’s The Enchanted Owl print fetched US$29,125 — about $45,000 in Canadian funds.

Levi Morgan, director of public relations for Butterfields Auctioneers, said the print was displayed in Landers’ Chicago home in her Chinese room — the room in which she kept and displayed the many owl figures and images given to her by fans and admirers. They often sent her owl paraphernalia in recognition of her sage advice. Morgan guessed the print was a gift from a fan.

John Western, the manager of Dorset Fine Arts in Toronto, said the stonecut print from 1960 originally sold for $75.

“There were 25 red and 25 green, but red has always been more sought after than the green,” he said. The image from the Landers’ collection was red. “I think it works better. It’s just more effective with the black and white.”

While Morgan said the sale may have set a record price for the print in the United States, Toronto’s Waddington’s Auction House pulled in $58,650 for the print at an Inuit art auction in 2001.

Western said Cape Dorset prints are steadily increasing in value, particularly the older prints. James Houston, who was working as a government employee in late 1950s, helped local artists start a co-operative in 1961, which has produced an annual print collection every year since.

“Even the more contemporary ones have increased in value,” Western said. “Even prints from last year have increased in value. It depends on the print itself, whether it’s sought after by enough people or not.”

Western said the worldwide interest in the prints is thanks to the high quality produced by the artists and printmakers.

“There’s such a wealth of talent in Cape Dorset,” he said. “They’ve got this outstanding tradition and great print shop and great studios.”