Inuit Art Auction Highlights

Waddington’s celebrates its 30th year of Inuit art at auction with strong result.

The effects of an economic slowdown were scarcely evident at Waddington’s auction house Monday night and Tuesday morning. Over the course of two sessions, some 700 works of important Inuit art were auctioned by Waddington’s, Canada’s oldest auction house.

The blockbuster sale featured works by a broad selection of notable artists including Pauta Saila, Jessie Oonark, Henry Evaluardjuk, George Tataniq, and John Tiktak.

The two day sale took in $1.2 million, including the 20% buyer’s premium, a result that is in line with previous sales. Christa Ouimet, director of Inuit art at Waddington’s suggests that is because, “Inuit art is still a relatively affordable art form – our bi-annual auctions are the largest offerings of Inuit art and collectors look forward to this event as an opportunity to add premier pieces to their collections.”

Expected highlights from the sale did not disappoint. A Joe Talirunili Migration boat, which carried a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000, was hammered down for $25,200. Waddington’s had set the record for an Inuit sculpture at auction in 2006 with a similar piece by the artist, which sold for $278,000.

A remarkable stone mother and child by Inukjuak artist Isa Smiler sold for $48,000, including buyer’s premium, exceeding its high end estimate of $30,000. “A work of this quality will define a collection”, Ouimet says.

The pinnacle of the evening came with lot 183, Man Hunting At A Seal Hole In The Ice, a 1959 skin stencil by Cape Dorset artist Niviaxie. Prints from the inaugural Cape Dorset collection, produced in 1959, normally do quite well, and this one was no exception. A striking image in brilliant blue of a hunter waiting to strike, the image was finally hammered down for $64,600, including buyer’s premium. Also on the block were two other prints by Niviaxie, Polar Bear And Cub In Ice went for $28,800, and Arctic Gulls which fetched $15,600.

Results of the auction stand in stark contrast to the sombre sales reported at some of the international auction houses who concluded their season earlier in the month. Estimates for this auction were based on last year’s healthy market conditions and results, Duncan McLean, President of Waddington’s Auctioneers points out, “in this challenging economic climate, the best items still achieved results over the high end estimates.”