CNW Group

Rediscovered Emily Carr and Masterpiece Tom Thomsons Make History at Heffel's Fall Auction

CNW Group
5 min read

  • Record-breaking results at Heffel's fall auction, surpassing $22M in total sales

  • Emily Carr $50 barn find shatters presale expectations and sells for $349,000

  • Outstanding results for Tom Thomson masterworks, with two major examples each surpassing $2M

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2024 /CNW/ - Heffel Fine Art Auction House celebrated a landmark evening at its historic fall auction, achieving a remarkable total of $22.7 million and setting multiple records across all areas of the market. Tom Thomson stole the show, with two major works from the Collection of Torben V. Kristiansen surpassing $2 million each, cementing his place as a cornerstone of Canadian art. All eyes were also on Emily Carr's Masset, Q.C.I., the rediscovered barn find that captivated the art world and far exceeded expectations. The auction underscored the strength and vibrancy of Canada's art market, with Heffel leading the way. Held at the firm's Toronto auction venue, the event connected a global audience through their Digital Saleroom, providing a dynamic platform for collectors to come together and celebrate exceptional art. (All prices are in Canadian dollars and include a buyer's premium.)

An Emily Carr painting originally purchased for $50 at a Hamptons barn sale, Masset, Q.C.I., achieved a final sale price of $349,250 at the Heffel auction. (CNW Group/Heffel Fine Art Auction House)
An Emily Carr painting originally purchased for $50 at a Hamptons barn sale, Masset, Q.C.I., achieved a final sale price of $349,250 at the Heffel auction. (CNW Group/Heffel Fine Art Auction House)

An extraordinary piece of Canadian art history came to light at the Heffel auction with Emily Carr's Masset Q.C.I., which achieved a final sale price of $349,250 (est. $100,000 – 200,000). The remarkable backstory of the work—hidden away for over a century before being purchased for just $50 USD at a Hamptons barn sale—has captivated the world. Collectors flocked to Heffel's cross-country previews for a glimpse of the powerful and vivid depiction of a bear totem in Haida Gwaii, exemplifying Carr's reverence for the Indigenous cultures and landscapes of British Columbia. The sale marks a triumphant homecoming for the painting, which now reclaims its place as an essential chapter in Canada's cultural history.

Three extraordinary Tom Thomson paintings dominated the auction, collectively totaling nearly $5 million, led by two masterworks from the esteemed Collection of Torben V. Kristiansen. Winter Morning achieved an astounding $2,281,250 (est. $1,000,000 – 1,500,000), while Tamarack Swamp commanded $2,101,250 (est. $1,200,000 – 1,600,000). Earlier in the evening, Thomson's dazzling Northern Lake more than doubled its expected price and sold for $541,250 (est. $200,000 – 300,000). Due to Thomson's untimely death, his works are among the rarest and most coveted in Canadian art, and these impressive results exemplify his icon status.

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