diamondjim
New member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2011
- Messages
- 1
Hi there,
Just to add my two cents...I agree that these masks are definitely of a West Coast Native sensibility, if not actual artist. More properly, these masks are from a Northwest Coastal People nation. In Canada, they are known as First People or First Nation People. As these are from a numbered series, the artist/publisher invested quite a bit of time, money and effort in order to get at least the first run onto the gallery wall. Sometimes the artist and publisher will limit the total number, in this case 500 of each piece, but will only produce a certain percentage of the total edition number initially, in order to limit financial exposure if the piece doesn't sell. Since we don't know the economics of the artist/publisher, it's impossible to say whether "Copeland" ever put out all 500 (plus artist's proofs) of each piece. As to provenance, it's very likely that these pieces simply lost their "identity" as so many pieces of art, books, tools, weavings, etc., do over the years and generations. "Antiques Roadshow" is a weekly lesson in this very subject. In fact, it doesn't take a succession of generations for a piece to get lost. People often buy art out of excitement when they discover something new, such as a powerful culture(s) like the First Nations. And they'll hang it on their wall when they get home, and forget all about the artist over time. These masks likely became just an embarassingly expensive souvenir. Since art is an illiquid investment for most people - how many of you out there are knowledgeable, skilled and have the contacts to buy and sell art - they then "lost" their value, even to the owner. As I type this, I'm looking at a gorgeous painting I purchase from a gallery I lived a block away from when I was 24 and living in San Francisco. I have absolutely no idea what the market is for this artist's paintings and no idea how to go about liquidating it if I chose to. I think that most people just give away, or throw away, art or other decorative items because they just don't see them as the portable wealth that they are. The fact that these two pieces ended up in a thrift store doesn't say much about the quality or authenticity of them. Antique dealers aren't necessarily more knowledgeable either. If I came into possession of these two masks, I would go online and look up Coastal People art galleries in Vancouver, B.C.. I would then contact them via e-mail with photos. Surely one or more of them will offer an opinion, and perhaps money. If nothing comes of your efforts, I would fasten them to the doorway that opens into your personal refinery, as a gold plated, life-sized talisman that will surely lure luck and fortune to you and your precious metals hunting endeavors. Or maybe hang them on big gold chains and wear them around your neck. Was' up, my nizzle! Cheers, james
Just to add my two cents...I agree that these masks are definitely of a West Coast Native sensibility, if not actual artist. More properly, these masks are from a Northwest Coastal People nation. In Canada, they are known as First People or First Nation People. As these are from a numbered series, the artist/publisher invested quite a bit of time, money and effort in order to get at least the first run onto the gallery wall. Sometimes the artist and publisher will limit the total number, in this case 500 of each piece, but will only produce a certain percentage of the total edition number initially, in order to limit financial exposure if the piece doesn't sell. Since we don't know the economics of the artist/publisher, it's impossible to say whether "Copeland" ever put out all 500 (plus artist's proofs) of each piece. As to provenance, it's very likely that these pieces simply lost their "identity" as so many pieces of art, books, tools, weavings, etc., do over the years and generations. "Antiques Roadshow" is a weekly lesson in this very subject. In fact, it doesn't take a succession of generations for a piece to get lost. People often buy art out of excitement when they discover something new, such as a powerful culture(s) like the First Nations. And they'll hang it on their wall when they get home, and forget all about the artist over time. These masks likely became just an embarassingly expensive souvenir. Since art is an illiquid investment for most people - how many of you out there are knowledgeable, skilled and have the contacts to buy and sell art - they then "lost" their value, even to the owner. As I type this, I'm looking at a gorgeous painting I purchase from a gallery I lived a block away from when I was 24 and living in San Francisco. I have absolutely no idea what the market is for this artist's paintings and no idea how to go about liquidating it if I chose to. I think that most people just give away, or throw away, art or other decorative items because they just don't see them as the portable wealth that they are. The fact that these two pieces ended up in a thrift store doesn't say much about the quality or authenticity of them. Antique dealers aren't necessarily more knowledgeable either. If I came into possession of these two masks, I would go online and look up Coastal People art galleries in Vancouver, B.C.. I would then contact them via e-mail with photos. Surely one or more of them will offer an opinion, and perhaps money. If nothing comes of your efforts, I would fasten them to the doorway that opens into your personal refinery, as a gold plated, life-sized talisman that will surely lure luck and fortune to you and your precious metals hunting endeavors. Or maybe hang them on big gold chains and wear them around your neck. Was' up, my nizzle! Cheers, james
). Most art dealers here and on the west coast know nothing about the masks or artist. I've posted on classified sites to see if the general public knows, with nothing but most people say it's west coast aboriginal inspired art which is clearly evident in the design style choice. 
