Jackie Kennedy’s drawings of JFK
Wright, the Chicago auction house owned by Richard Wright held an auction called “Important Design” today. A large proportion of the sale included contemporary furniture and design items.
Included also were 8 drawings which Jacqueline Kennedy completed as she waited to be interviewed for Look Magazine in 1961. Each work done in a cartoon illustration style depicts an event or occurrence during the political career of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. Each drawing is signed and dated with the year. The drawings were gifted to the president of Cowles Communications and Look Magazine following the interview, the works have remained in his family collection until now.
The drawings were estimated to sell at $3000-$5000. Only one drawing sold during the auction at a price of $3125 which included the 20% buyer’s premium.
Jacqueline Kennedy memorabilia can command significant premiums due to her iconic status and it is rather surprising how little sold. In fact a small pink pocketbook that Jackie owned has sold in auction for $175 more.
It shows how important and how difficult pricing work is, especially when work by the artist is being sold for the first time whether in an auction or for direct sale. Consideration needs to be given to economic climate, demand for the genre, volume and pricing of similar work, prior history of sales, and a study of relevant factors such as the age of the artist, public renown, associated marketing and promotional activities, before determining a price. And even then, look what happens!
