FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, DECEMBER 2, 2020
First Arts held its third successful live auction on the evening of December 1, 2020. A total of 151 lots brought over $1,900,000 and set eleven auction records. The auction, due to COVID-19 restrictions, was closed to a public audience. Collectors from across North America and Europe placed absentee, online and telephone bids.
Important works that set world record auction prices were
Lot 39
JESSIE OONARK, O.C., R.C.A (1906-1985) QAMANI'TUAQ (BAKER LAKE)
Untitled (Wallhanging), c. 1974-5
ESTIMATE: $60,000 — $90,000
Price Realized: $156,000
A WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AND THIS COMMUNITY AT AUCTION.
LOT 88
JOHN PANGNARK (1920-1980) ARVIAT (ESKIMO POINT)
Figure, c. 1973-4
ESTIMATE: $25,000 — $35,000
PRICE REALIZED: $108,000
A WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AND THIS COMMUNITY AT AUCTION.
LOT 25
LUCASSIE USAITAIJUK (1897-1962) SALLUIT (SUGLUK)
Mother and Child, c. 1957
ESTIMATE: $60,000 — $90,000
PRICE REALIZED: $108,000
A WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AND THIS COMMUNITY AT AUCTION.
LOT 44
CAPTAIN RICHARD CARPENTER (DU’KLWAYELLA) (1841-1931), HEILTSUK
Blanket Box, c. 1900
ESTIMATE: $70,000 — $100,000
PRICE REALIZED: $78,000
A WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST
LOT 32
JOE TALIRUNILI (1893-1976) PUVIRNITUQ (POVUNGNITUK)
Migration Boat, 1966
ESTIMATE: $180,000 — $280,000
PRICE REALIZED: $360,000
THE SECOND HIGHEST WORLD RECORD PRICE EVER ACHIEVED FOR A WORK OF INUIT ART AT AUCTION
A price surpassed only by a similar work in the First Arts May 2019 auction
LOT 23
JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999), UQSUQTUUQ (GJOA HAVEN)
Excited Fisherman, c. 1984
ESTIMATE: $18,000 — $28,000
PRICE REALIZED: $50,400
TIED FOR THE WORLD RECORD FOR THE ARTIST AND THIS COMMUNITY AT AUCTION.
LOT 92
HENRY EVALUARDJUK (1923-2007) IQALUIT (FROBISHER BAY)
Fisherman, c. 1963-4
ESTIMATE: $15,000 — $25,000
PRICE REALIZED: $55,200
A WORLD RECORD FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION
LOT 130
MARION TUU'LUQ, R.C.A. (1910-2002) QAMANI'TUAQ (BAKER LAKE)
Drum Dance, c. 1976
ESTIMATE: $2,500 — $3,500
PRICE REALIZED: $6,000
A WORLD RECORD FOR A DRAWING BY THE ARTIST AT AUCTION
LOT 143
ARNAQU ASHEVAK (1956-2009) KINNGAIT (CAPE DORSET)
Tattooed Women, Spring 2008 #7
ESTIMATE: $2,000 — $3,000
PRICE REALIZED: $6,600
A WORLD RECORD FOR A PRINT BY THE ARTIST AT AUCTION
LOT 128
LUKE ANOWTALIK (1932-2006) ARVIAT (ESKIMO POINT)
People of the Caribou, c. 1999
ESTIMATE: $8,000 — $12,000
PRICE REALIZED: $21,600
A WORLD RECORD FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION
LOT 148
MARK TUNGILIK (1913-1986) NAUJAAT (REPULSE BAY)
Muskox, c. 1978
ESTIMATE: $4,000 — $6,000
PRICE REALIZED: $6,600
A WORLD RECORD FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION
LOT 39
JESSIE OONARK, O.C., R.C.A (1906-1985) QAMANI'TUAQ (BAKER LAKE)
Favourite Daughter, c. 1985 #18
ESTIMATE: $3,000 — $5,000
PRICE REALIZED: $7,200
GIVING BACK
First Arts is committed to supporting, Inuit, First Nations, and Métis arts communities. Last year, our donation to the Inuit Art Foundation raised $28,000 for their invaluable ongoing project of developing artist biographies. This year we have pledged an additional $10,000 to the Inuit Art Foundation as part of a matching gift campaign to support the Inuit Art Quarterly, the only magazine devoted entirely to Inuit art. In addition, our donation to Indspire, a national Indigenous charity that invests in the education of First Nations and Métis students, will provide scholarships and bursaries to Indigenous post-secondary students across Canada.
ABOUT FIRST ARTS
First Arts Premiers Inc. is a Canadian hybrid auction-retail company that focuses exclusively on Inuit, First Nations, and Métis works of art. These works are marketed to collectors through live and online auctions as well as retail exhibitions. Specialists Ingo Hessel, Patricia Feheley, Mark London and Nadine Di Monte bring well over a century of experience working with Indigenous art, artists, collectors, and museums.
For additional information or high-resolution photographs, please consult our website or contact:
Nadine Di Monte
info@FirstArts.ca | 647 286 5012
Comments
Congratulations!!!! I watched the auction and was amazed at the prices!!!! Well Done!!!
I am so pleased that this format appears to be the "best" yet!!!!
Happy Holidays to YOU!!!