22 Nov
Not only have the buy-ins and prize pools of poker tournaments increased in recent years, so too has artwork related to the game of poker.
I’m talking specifically about the famous Dogs Playing Poker collection, which we here at PokerTube spelled out in detail just a couple of weeks ago. Everything you need to know about those paintings done by C.M. Coolidge around the turn of the century – not this century, but the previous one – can be found in that article, including the fact that two of the 16 pieces – “A Bold Bluff” and “Waterloo” – sold for $590,400 ten years ago.
However, the story doesn’t end there, nor will it end anytime soon – apparently. While Coolidge has long been laid to rest, his artwork lives on, and continues to gain value over time.
Yet another one of the Dogs Playing Poker collection found a buyer recently, and it has perhaps made those who previously referred to Coolidge’s four-legged work as “tacky” change their tune. The painting entitled “Poker Game” was sold at Sotheby’s for $658,000.
I would venture to say that art collectors who pay that kind of money are looking at the work with an eye more toward “masterpiece” than tacky. At least, that’s what the selling price points to.
Coolidge, who unfortunately didn’t live long enough to see his work fully appreciated, must be smiling from above as the value of his paintings skyrocket. There was likely not too much meat on the bone when the advertising firm of Brown & Bigelow commissioned him to create various ads for their clients and he came up with Dogs Playing Poker.
Born as Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, he was known to family and friends, ironically enough, as “Cash.” And that’s exactly what owners of his paintings are now being rewarded with.
As the saying goes, “Every dog has his day.”
