Posted by Popped into my neighborhood thrift store the other day and spotted this framed “Aesop’s Fables: The Gnat & The Lion” artwork. The white frame and matting did it no favors, but the print was signed (Edward Bawden 1903-1989) and an artist’s proof, 31/50.
This looked like something good so I snagged it. Back home I discovered that it was produced in 1970 and it’s been sold at high-end UK auction houses like Chiswick and Bonham’s in the £1000+ range!
In fact I could not find this color linocut anywhere currently for sale. Which is not surprising because only 50 were made. These findings got me dancing around my kitchen.
Then. Then I opened up the frame to take out the linocut and have a closer look and my heart sank. Oh no. It was a print of the original. A print. Well, darn.
Printed at the bottom: “Edward Bawden, Gnat and Lion, 1970, Aesop’s Fables, Color linocut on paper, 40.4 x 55.7. Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery (The Higgins Bedford), © Estate of Edward Bawden. dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Printed in the UK by King & McGaw”
It was still a good thing but not a great thing. Not an original thing. I was so disappointed.
Still. Still, okay as a fine art print (smaller than the original) of a charming and scarce image, it had value. So I starting doing more research on it. Since it was printed by King & McGaw I checked their website and they currently only have one Bawden print available, framed at £160.
I also discovered in 2018 the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London held an exhibit of Bawden’s work that included 160 original pieces. I’m thinking since their URL is at the bottom of this print too that it may have been commissioned for this exhibition and sold in their gift shop?? Maybe.
In the end I’ve listed mine for $80, a far cry from the $1000+ I was hoping for. Still it is a good thing. If it doesn’t sell with the white frame, I’ll paint it black.
This print got me thinking about all the times that an item I bought was better than I originally thought or turned out to be worse. But this one was a complete roller coaster. I bought it thinking it was valued under $100, then discovered it could be worth over $1000, then learning it was back to my original estimate. Phew! Now I’ll wait to see if it finds a new home.
Wishing you happy hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 