Winnie The Pooh, 2003
Edition: 25
Stencil spray-paint on canvas
51×51 cm (20 1/16 x20 1/16 inches)
Stenciled “BANKSY” in red spray paint on the turnover edge
Further signed, dated, and numbered /25 in black ink on the reverse of the stretcher
Winnie the Pooh first appeared as a mural in Banksy’s hometown of Bristol in 1999. It belongs to Banksy’s earliest collection of works on canvas, first exhibited at Santa’s Ghetto, an exhibition of paintings and prints by Banksy and other notable street artists.
The image portrays Alan Alexander Milne’s famous Winnie the Pooh character in a black and white stencil style. The familiar, endearing cartoon bear is weeping under a tree, his foot caught in a bear trap. But, in a usual Banksy twist, instead of Pooh Bear’s famous honey pot, he has a pot of money.
Winnie the Pooh, who is a symbol of childlike naiveté and good nature has been attracted by money, materialism, consumerism and unfortunately got caught, like so many of us do. Perhaps this is Banksy’s way of saying that we are all the same or that even the very best of us fall are susceptible to falling victim of the trappings of money, power, and greed.
Auction Results
Winnie The Pooh sold only once at auction.
It sold at Bonhams London on 16 April 2008, for GBP 31,200 (USD 61,212).
It got bought-in at Bonhams in Los Angeles on 29 October 2012, with an estimate range of USD 50K-80K.
Winnie The Pooh, 2003
Stencil spray paint on canvas
Signed in stencil on the turnover edge
Numbered 7/25 on the reverse
Bonhams Los Angeles / 29 October 2012
