THIS OLD THING
THIS OLD THING
This is the seventh of an occasional feature on This Old Thing where we revisit items submitted for appraisal some years ago, and see how their values have changed. This week we look at a Picasso plate, an Inuit carving and a jukebox, comparing their current values with those from between seven and nine years ago.
Q.1957, This Picasso plate, dated was purchased by my brother while he was living in France, probably in the mid-1960s. It has been in my possession since his death 10 years ago. It’s about 93 centimetres across (36.5 inches) and in perfect condition.
•Ward, Beamsville
A. The famed avant-garde artist needs no formal introduction, but many don’t realize he loved to work in clay as well as paint. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was introduced to pottery by fellow painter Paul Gauguin, and quickly became fascinated with the art. The line he developed was produced by Madoura Pottery in Vallauris, France, between 1947 and 1971. He also made many original pottery pieces, some of which were later reproduced as limited ceramic editions. This is what you have, verified by the stamp on the back of the platter. Back in 2007, I estimated this piece to be worth $6,000. Picasso survived the fallout from the 2008 recession, and your plate is worth $10,000 or more today.
Q. This carving was given to my greatuncle when he retired from the Department of Lands and Forests in the late 1960s, and later handed down to my mother. As you can see, it’s an Inuk hunter. It’s made of soapstone and it’s very heavy — about 27 kilograms (60 pounds.) It stands 39 cm tall (15.5 inches) and is 25 cm wide (10 inches). On the right foot is a label that says the carver is Tooklooktook, the location Baker Lake and the subject “Man.” It’s also dated Dec. 4/67. •Joyce, Toronto
A. Unlike so many other areas, the market for Inuit carving has remained strong since I originally looked at this piece in 2009. At that time I consulted Christa Ouimet, specialist of Inuit art at Toronto’s Waddingtons.ca auction house. She told me your carving is from one of her favourite settlements, formerly called Baker Lake, now called Qamani’tuaq, which is in the centre of Nunavut. Christa was also familiar with the carver, Paul Tooklooktook (19472003), and told me this figure is a really good example of the refined minimalist style that developed in this settlement. According to Christa, in 2009 this piece was worth about $5,000. If placed at auction today, it would easily start at $10,000 and rise from there.
Q. This vintage jukebox belonged to my father. I think it was purchased in the 1960s or ’70s. It’s marked “AMI Lyric” and it plays 45s. Our whole family enjoyed listening to music on it until the 1980s, and I believe it’s still in working order. •Elissa, Toronto
A. Drop your coins in the slot and get tappin’ to “Tossin’ and Turnin’” by Bobby Lewis, or “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles. Those tunes were among the top 100 hits of 1961 — the same year your jukebox was made. This wonderful old Lyric model was made by the Automatic Musical Instrument Company (AMI) out of the United States. While Wurlitzer was the biggest manufacturer of juke boxes, AMI still made 320,000 of them between 1935 and 1979. There’s something fascinating about the old mechanical operation of these machines, where an arm would find the record you selected, pull it out then fold it down onto the turntable. Interest in these nostalgic machines has remained strong since 2009 when this was selling for as much as $6,500. Today it will bring about the same amount.