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Inuit art items net $1.7 million at Toronto auction

Older carvings and prints earn more than appraisers expected

JANE GEORGE

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A rabbit carved by Andy Miki (1918-1983) of Arviat in 1975 was sold for $25,000. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF WADDINGTON’S)

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The market for Inuit carvings, wall hangings and prints looked stronger than ever at this week’s fall sale of Inuit art at Waddington’s auction house in Toronto.

“There’s a tremendous amount of interest and respect for the art,” said Duncan McLean, auctioneer with Waddington’s.

One carving from the 1950s only five inches tall, sold for about $60,000, including commission. The mottled dark soapstone sculpture is of an ulu with inlaid decorations and topped by a carved Inuit woman with braids.

Although several pieces by contemporary artists were in the auction, the majority of sale items dated from before 1975 and were collected mainly by southern government workers and teachers from 1950 to 1975.

“What people want are the old pieces. There was nothing brand new in this sale but it shows an incredible strength in the market, in the foundation of the art form,” McLean said.

In several hours on Monday night, 390 lots were sold for a total of $1 million. The entire auction amounted to $1.7 million.

A musk ox made by George Tataniq of Baker Lake in 1955 sold for $30,000, a figure with carved faces by Lucy Tasseor of Arviat for $48,000 while a John Kavik drawing drew bids of $6,000: all sold for more than appraisers had thought before the auction started and the competing bids pushed prices up.

“It was pretty crazy, with moments when the bidding goes on and on, and, then, when it finally sells there’s a round of applause,” McLean said.

A total of 900 items from private collections were sold in the auction. Most were sold to buyers from Canada, although the big bidders come from the United States and Europe.

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This 5” ulu carved in Port Harrison, now known as Inukjuak, in the 1950s by an unknown artist sold for $61,000 this week at a Toronto auction sale of Inuit art.

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McLean said the strong sale also benefits Inuit artists who are producing today because it encourages new buyers to invest in works of Inuit art.

“If you are a collector and you see a value for these in the secondary market you’re much more likely to invest in new things, knowing that they will help their value,” McLean said.

“I think it really does impact on things for the present day artists. If you have $5,000 you’re more likely to buy a new piece, knowing the old ones are selling very, very well.”

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