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Heffel Fall Sale = $22.7m CAD

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Jean-Paul Riopelle, Jouet

Heffel’s Fall sale of 135 works made $22.7m CAD with two works breaking $2m and two more selling for more than $1m with an additonal nine works totaling more than $500k. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Historic painting depicting Frederick Banting’s insulin laboratory sold for $313,250, ten times its presale estimate
  • Fishboats, Rivers Inlet, a masterpiece canvas by E.J. Hughes shattered the artist record and sold for $2,041,250 (est. $900,000 – 1,200,000). The canvas was first sold by Heffel in 2004 for $920,000 and the artist himself joined the sale room to share in the moment.
  • Four outstanding works by Jean Paul Riopelle led the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale and totaled $4,138,750. The 1953 drip canvas, Jouet (above) achieved a remarkable $2,881,250 (est. $1,200,000 – 1,600,000), followed by Lances for $871,250 (est. $200,000 – 250,000) and Mi-chemin for $361,250 (est. $250,000 – 350,000).
  • Mountain Sketch XC, a glowing work by Lawren Harris broke the million dollar mark and sold for $1,381,250 (est. $700,000 – 900,000). A second Rocky Mountain oil on board, Mount Unwin and Charlton – Maligne Lake, Jasper, sold for an noteworthy $421,250 (est. $200,000 – 300,000).
  • Three highly collectible canvases by Colombian artist Fernando Botero sold for a total of $2,163,750. Femme debout and Toro each brought in $811,250 (est. $500,000 – 700,000 and $450,000 – 650,000, respectively) and Seated Man went for $541,250 (est. $400,000 – 600,000).
  • Two exceptional examples by Quebec-born Jean Paul Lemieux fetched notable results. Les citadens sold for $1,081,250 (est. $900,000 – 1,200,000) and Jeune fille en uniforme, consigned from the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia, sold for $361,250 (est. $300,000 – 500,000).
  • Significant interest in two canvases by Emily Carr drove their prices beyond presale estimates. Spring Wave went for a final price of $511,250 (est. $300,000 – 500,000) and By the Canal, Crécy-en-Brie went for $181,250 (est. $80,000 – 120,000).
  • Paintings by the internationally renowned Alex Colville are rare to the market and highly sought-after. Two Boys Playing, a work depicting the artist’s sons, sold for $721,250 (est. $600,000 – 800,000) and Chaplain, another fantastic example, achieved $541,250 (est. $500,000 – 700,000).
  • Important works by all original members of the Group of Seven were offered in the fall auction, highlighted by Arthur Lismer’s extraordinary Tugs and Troop Carrier, Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia which sold for $781,250 (est. $700,000 – 900,000) and A.Y. Jackson’s stunning November, Georgian Bay, which sold for $631,250 (est. $400,000 – 600,000).
  • Sybil Andrews’s Boats at Dock was picked up at a British Columbia thrift store for quite a bargain. It was purchased for $69.95, less a 30% seniors’ discount and sold tonight for $52,250 (est. $20,000 – 50,000).
  • Four artist records were broken in the fall auction including the sale of Preserving Summer – Black Currant Jam by Mary Pratt for $133,250 (est. $30,000 – $40,000) and House in August by Christopher Pratt for $253,250 (est. $80,000 – $120,000).

Heffel Gears Up for $15m Fall Sale in Toronto with Riopelle and Harris

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Jean-Paul Riopelle, Jouet (C$1.2-1.6m)

Heffel has released its roster of 135 works for their November 21st sales in Toronto. The pre-sale estimate is C$15-20m which puts the sale in line with recent years strong results. Much of the rise in Heffel’s sales volume has come from the rising value of Canadian artists on the international market. Painters like Jean-Paul Riopelle, Lawren Harris and Jack Hamilton Bush have become sought after in many different geographical markets. Heffel also has some international artists like Botero and Karel Appel in these sales.

Here are Heffel’s publicity points for the sale:

  • Jean Paul Riopelle leads the auction with Jouet, a 1953 drip canvas that has traveled the world throughout its lifetime (est. $1,200,000 – 1,600,000). Riopelle is shining bright in the art world with the show Mitchell/Riopelle: Nothing in Moderation, at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Art Gallery of Ontario, soon to make its third stop at Fonds Hélène et Édouard Leclerc pour la culture in France.
  • E.J. Hughes’s Fishboats, Rivers Inlet was first sold by Heffel in 2004 and the artist himself was patched in to the saleroom to share in the record-breaking moment. The 1949 post-war masterwork was painted upon Hughes’s honourable discharge as an official war artist (est. $900,000 – 1,200,000).
  • Two magnificent examples by Jean Paul Lemieux highlight the fall offering, including Jeune fille en uniforme, the 1957 single figure canvas consigned by the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia (est. $300,000 – 500,000) and the large-scale masterpieceLes citadens (est. $900,000 – 1,200,000).
  • Works by members of the Group of Seven feature prominently, led by Arthur Lismer’s extraordinary Tugs and Troop Carrier, Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia (est. $700,000 – 900,000). Other major artworks include The Village Mill, by A.J. Casson (est. $300,000 – 500,000) and November, Georgian Bay, by A.Y. Jackson (est. $400,000 – 600,000).
  • A Canadian historic treasure, Sir Frederick Banting’s The Lab is the only known painting to depict the very room where he and Charles Best made their life-saving discovery of insulin (est. $20,000 – 30,000). The Buyer’s Premium for this work will be donated to the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre at the University of Toronto.
  • Globally renowned Colombian painter Fernando Botero stands out in the auction with three major canvases: Femme debout (est. $500,000 – 700,000), Toro (est. $450,000 – 650,000) and Seated Man (est. $400,000 – 600,000).
  • Six noteworthy paintings by Lawren Harris span his most sought-after subject matters. Leading the pack by estimate is the glowing work from the Group of Seven period Mountain Sketch XC (est. $700,000 – 900,000).
  • Jack Bush, whose work shattered the artist record at Heffel’s May auction, is sure to attract international interest this fall with four impressive canvases. Not to be missed are the vibrant and colourful Down and Across (est. $250,000 – 350,000) and So (est. $150,000 – 250,000).
  • Internationally collected Alex Colville shines with two exciting works, both of which have been exhibited in important museums. Two Boys Playing, a classic 1950s Colville, will undoubtedly draw interest from collectors, institutions and aficionados worldwide (est. $600,000 – 800,000).
  • Particularly poignant are two charming paintings by the talented Mary Pratt, who passed away earlier this year. Preserving Summer—Black Currant Jam (est. $30,000 – 40,000) and Buttered Roaster (est. $25,000 – 35,000) each showcase Pratt’s perpetual command of light.
  • A remarkable find, Sybil Andrews’s Boats at Dock was picked up by its current owner at a BC thrift store. The rare canvas was purchased for a mere $69.95 less a 30% seniors’ discount (est. $20,000 – 30,000).
  • Major canvases by Emily Carr are exceedingly rare to the market. Spring Wave (est. $300,000 – 500,000), a mature-period Carr landscape once owned by the artist’s publisher, and By the Canal, Crécy-en-Brie (est. $80,000 – 120,000), from a trip to France early in Carr’s career, each present exciting market opportunities.
  • Two outstanding examples by CoBrA artists build out the international offering this season. A vibrant untitled painting by Karel Appel (est. $250,000 – 350,000) and Asger Jorn’s abstract canvas Rifki florblomster (est. $125,000 – 175,000) are sure to excite enthusiasts of the European avant-garde movement.

Heffel Fall 2018 Live Auction Schedule
To give interested buyers from across Canada an opportunity to view these works, the collection will be previewed in four cities leading up to the live auction:

  • Calgary: Friday, October 19 to Saturday, October 20, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., 888 4th Avenue SW, Unit 609
  • Vancouver: Saturday, October 27 to Tuesday, October 30, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Heffel Gallery, 2247 Granville Street
  • Montreal: Thursday, November 8 to Saturday, November 10, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Galerie Heffel, 1840 rue Sherbrooke Ouest
  • Toronto: Saturday, November 17 to Tuesday, November 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Wednesday, November 21, 10 a.m. – noon, Design Exchange, Exhibition Hall, 234 Bay Street

The two-session live auction will take place on Wednesday, November 21 at Design Exchange (The Historic Trading Floor, 234 Bay Street, Toronto):

  • 4:00 p.m. EST — Post-War & Contemporary Art
  • 7:00 p.m. EST — Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art

Heffel Spring Auction = C$21.8m

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Jean-Paul Riopelle, Vent du nord (1-1.5m) 7.4m CAD

Heffel’s sale was a success this week bringing in $21.8m and led by a record price for Jean-Paul Riopelle. Here are the highlights from the sale issued by Heffel:

  • Jean Paul Riopelle’s masterpiece canvas Vent du nord drew participation from more than 20 bidders around the world. The outstanding work of art sold for a well-deserved price of $7,438,750, smashing the world record for the artist previously set in Paris (est. $1,000,000 – 1,500,000).
  • Five works by Lawren Harris were led by Lynx Mountain, Mt. Robson District, BC / Mountain Sketch XLI for $1,261,250 (est. $600,000 – 800,000) and Yoho Valley and Isolation Peak / Mountain Sketch XLV for $601,250 (est. $600,000 – 800,000).
  • The 1930s Lawren Harris abstract canvas LSH 89B sold for a remarkable $451,250 (est. $200,000 – 300,000).This work is from an important period in Harris’s career, the focus of a current exhibition at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
  • Two large scale canvases by Jack Bush were among the highlights in today’s sale. Two Road Marks sold for $601,250 (est. $150,000 – 250,000) and Green Sleeves sold for $481,250 (est. $175,000 – 225,000).

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In Canada, Riopelle’s Work Has Been Used As An Alternative Currency for Illegal Activities

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riopelle-painting

The Globe and Mail follows up the news of a recovered Jean-Paul Riopelle painting with a quick recap of his fame which, the paper says, is one of the reasons his work has been stolen often. Today, Riopelle may be better known for his relationship with Joan Mitchell but in the 1950s and 60s, he was a huge international name. That fame has led to his work being targeted for theft and used as an underground currency.

The Global and Mail explains:

The draw of Riopelle works to thieves is a simple case of high supply, high profile and high demand. He had a prolific career before his death in 2002, he was globally famous for decades and his works routinely draw six-figure prices on the international market. His greatest paintings have sold for $1-million or more at least 14 times, but he also created hundreds of smaller, easy-to-carry works.

The Globe and Mail says Riopelle’s work has been reported stolen 19 times in the past 25 years. That’s just the reported thefts. The paper spoke to Montreal dealer Simon Blais:Continue Reading

Boom! Heffel’s $41m Canadian Art Sale Led By $11.2m Lawren Harris

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mountain-forms-lawren-harris

Lawren Harris’s Mountain Forms set a new record for Harris and a Canadian artist at Heffel’s Fall sale in Toronto. The entire sale made $41m, we over the $32m high estimate on hammer prices. Here’s Heffel on the lead lot that owes some of its success to Steve Martin’s attention-grabbing exhibition:

Lawren Harris’s highly anticipated Mountain Forms led the fall auction with a remarkable sale price of $11,210,000. Strong competition from bidders in the saleroom and on the phones drove the 1926 canvas to a new artist record and a new record for a Canadian work at auction, more than doubling the previous record. The visual impact, date, provenance and exhibition history all factored into its successful sale. The work also had personal connections for Heffel as it was owned and sold in the 1980s by Kenneth Heffel, father of David and Robert. The painting recently starred in The Idea of North: The Paintings of Lawren Harris, the celebrated exhibition that toured major institutions in Boston, Los Angeles and Toronto.

Other highlights from the sale were:Continue Reading

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