Featured Benjamin Chee Chee print

Hi all,Iam thinking this could possibly be one of the initial limited prints that was created of Benjamin’s work while he was still alive.

Benjamin himself started with limited prints of his original artwork in the early to mid-70’s. However after his death in 1977 his work was widely mass reproduced and copied (on all kinds of things including cups and postcards)

The original Friends (of 3 Canadian geese)artwork is a lithographic print from 1974 (original work was signed and dated) William Derry was a prominent art dealer and framer in Cape Town and was established in 1892 and very active in the mid-20th century.

It is unclear exactly as to when William Derry stop trading but I understand it could possibly be in the 70’s or so (but I can’t confirm this)

So do you agree that this could be one of the initial limited prints created by Benjamin himself while he was still alive? The print size is 15,5 x 23cm. Thanks for any comments.

 

I now read that a company called E&S Morris also traded as William
Derry (so I don’t know) The frame and label does however look around the 70’s to me (or would you think 80’s)

 

The key is obviously to try and establish exactly when William Derry stopped trading. Anyway it is a cool little artwork.

 

Agree. Typical of his elegant, minimalist style. Sometimes he used even fewer lines, still capturing the essence of the birds.

 

To get an idea, some prices on this site:

https://www.artcountrycanada.com/chee-chee-benjamin.htm

"Friends" is there too, but you have to mail them for the price of that one.

 

True,I looked at some of his other works. I also like how the ‘body’ lines overlap and ‘unite’

 

Thanks AJ.I will have a look

 

True friends, they blend, so to speak.

 

I find it odd that renown William Derry framed these Friends slightly out of plumb; the horizontal line supporting the geese is higher on the left end, by enough to notice by the most casual observer.
Of course, there may have been another cause for that, post-framing...but that, too, calls into question the quality of the print placement vis a vis securing it behind the mat. Something a bit strange, seems to me.

 

Noted. Good observation and interesting comments. Thanks

 

More likely pre-framing. I have a few Canadian First Nation prints, and bought them already in those double two-tone mats, in plastic sleeves. All that needed to be done was put them in a frame. I guess that was also the case with this one.

 

SIZE of the image please !
6 x 9...... and u won't like my answer

 

Give the size. Much smaller than the ‘original’… Comment away,all answers are welcome. Just want to really get an idea of when this print was produced.. Plus I paid less than $1 for it so no real wrong answers here

 

that size is what's called an Art Card , or Greeting card...... printed in the 10's of thousands and sold in tourist shops from the 80's up to today.
I sold dozens out of my Gallery.... in the 90's.....for $ 6.99

Chee Chee's prints, Ltd Edition prints , and originals are much larger in format.

https://www.andersonandgarland.com/...e-chee---friends--lithograph/?lot=334492&sd=1

 

....sorry....

the originals were made in 1974

 

Ok. So an art card. Thanks for the comment and information. On the plus side framed for less than a $ is
still bargain. So this could not have been printed and framed before 1980. So than must mean William Derry must have still been trading.

 

No worries! Yes,I read the original was produced in 1974.

 

the mat's brown hue shows it's leaching acid on to the card....... there's not much value to be had there......

again....... sorry !
but........ it's still an inexpensive lesson..

 

The best kind of lesson