|
Heffel's Fall 2009 sale - November 26, 2009
For Immediate Release
October 15, 2009
Lawren Stewart Harris
The Old Stump, Lake Superior
Heffel Fine Art Auction House is pleased to announce their November 26, 2009 sales of Post-War & Contemporary Art and Fine Canadian Art, with fifteen masterworks from the Helen E. Band Estate at centre stage. Also on offer are eight masterworks from an anonymous Canadian philanthropist who will be donating the proceeds from the sale of his collection to various Canadian charities.
Heffel's has dominated the Canadian Art market since 2004 and will continue their groundbreaking tradition, established in the fall of 2008, of holding two separate sessions. The Post-War & Contemporary Art sale will kick off the afternoon at 4 pm EST followed by the Fine Canadian Art sale at 7 pm EST. The combined total of 210 lots with a pre-sale estimate of $11 - 15 million dollars points to the continued health of the Canadian art market. The added attraction of iconic works from the Helen E. Band Estate as a centrepiece jewel in a glittering array of masterworks by some of Canada's finest artists, makes for a spectacular sales event.
The Post-War & Contemporary Art sale includes works by Paul-Émile Borduas, Jack Bush, Jean-Philippe Dallaire, Charles Gagnon, E.J. Hughes, Gershon Iskowitz, Christopher Pratt, William Ronald and Jack Shadbolt, to name but a few of the artists represented. "Our strategic decision to separate into two sessions and produce two separate catalogues has proved extremely successful," said David Heffel, president of Heffel Fine Art Auction House, "by dividing the two periods of art, we can focus more attention to each artwork in each catalogue, to the benefit of our consignors and buyers." Heffel continued, "With this sale, we have not only a major estate, but a charitable philanthropist who will donate the proceeds of the sale of his artworks to Canadian charities."
Paul-Émile Borduas
Arabesque
From the Canadian philanthropist's collection, Paul-Émile Borduas's stunning Allegro furioso ($100,000 - 150,000) from 1949, was created just one year after the publication of the famous manifesto Refus global. Another Borduas, the gorgeous Arabesque ($275,000 - 375,000) and William Ronald's Dakota ($60,000 - 80,000), represent the New York periods of these two important painters. Charles Gagnon's Intersection ($20,000 - 30,000) dates from just after his New York period when he was making his Gap series paintings. Jack Bush is also well represented in this sale, with several watercolours and the oil on canvas Transition ($10,000 - 15,000), as well as Zip #1 ($55,000 - 65,000), an acrylic work. Two luminous Gershon Iskowitz works, Sky-D ($20,000 - 30,000) and Orange Mauve-E (B95) ($20,000 - 30,000) from the early 1980s, along with the classic modern abstract work, Ray Mead's 1955 Painting ($35,000 - 45,000), attest to the variety and breadth of this sale.
Charles Gagnon
Intersection
E.J. Hughes is well represented in the sale, with Roberts Bay, BC ($100,000 - 150,000), a stunning early painting from 1953, The Store at Allison Harbour, BC, 1955 ($200,000 - 300,000) and Davis Lagoon Bridge, Saltair, BC ($125,000 - 175,000). Jack Shadbolt is another important artist whose work is highlighted in the sale with the 1948 oil Sketch Study of Head ($40,000 - 60,000). A number of striking pieces in bronze by Joe Fafard are available, including Auguste ($25,000 - 35,000) from his artist series. Christopher Pratt's oil painting Ice, Moon and Tanker ($25,000 - 35,000), several sculptures by Sorel Etrog including the wood relief Circus ($40,000 - 60,000) and two stunning silver works by Bill Reid, the bracelet Bear, Frog, Raven, Human, Killer Whale and Wolf ($25,000 - 35,000) and the brooch Killer Whale and Humans ($9,000 - 12,000), both from the 1950s, round out the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale.
At 7 pm EST, the Fine Canadian Art sale commences with fifteen masterworks from the revered Band family collections. Long admired by Canadian art audiences, works from the Band collection have been part of exhibitions, catalogues and the art historical dialogue of this country since the early 1930s. These works have come to Heffel's through the estate of Helen E. Band, daughter of collector Charles S. Band. Four masterworks by Lawren Harris have been consigned, including the final oil sketches for the masterpieces North Shore, Lake Superior and Icebergs, Davis Strait, titled The Old Stump, Lake Superior ($2,000,000 - 2,500,000) and Iceberg, Baffin's Bay North ($1,200,000 - 1,600,000). "These works mark the birth of several Canadian icons," comments Robert Heffel, vice-president, Heffel Fine Art Auction House.
Lawren Stewart Harris
Houses, St. Patrick Street
An early street scene, Houses, St. Patrick Street ($1,200,000 - 1,600,000) and another Arctic work In Buchanan Bay, Ellesmere Island ($550,000 - 750,000) completes the Harris selection from the Band estate. Also included are A.Y. Jackson's rhythmic 1926 canvas North Shore, Lake Superior ($450,000 - 550,000) and a stunning nude by Frederick Varley Nude on a Couch ($400,000 - 500,000), considered by art historians to be one of Varley's finest paintings. "These works represent critical points for Harris and Varley," said Robert Heffel, "and a classic moment for Jackson. The collection as a whole is quite remarkable."
From the Canadian philanthropist's collection comes Tom Thomson's masterpiece Early Spring, Canoe Lake ($600,000 - 800,000), which is featured on the cover of Joan Murray's book Tom Thomson: The Last Spring and David Milne's brightly-coloured and energetic canvas, Bronx Park, 1913 ($200,000 - 300,000), as well as an oil Thaw in the Woods, Alander Cabin, Lower Berkshires, Massachusetts ($50,000 - 70,000) from 1921 and the watercolour Snow Behind Clarke's House, Mount Riga, NY ($25,000 - 35,000). Heffel's is proud to partner in this admirable venture.
Works from other consignors include masterworks by A.Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris and J.E.H. MacDonald, underlining Heffel's continued expertise with works by the Group of Seven. The energized Emily Carr oil on paper, Arbutus Trees ($125,000 - 175,000), as well as a 1912 totem painting, Skidegate ($125,000 - 175,000), testify to her vision and are treasured offerings on the art market. Another stunning work by Tom Thomson, Autumn, Algonquin Park ($300,000 - 400,000) from 1913, is an extremely rare inclusion to the sale. A.J. Casson's delightful oil Early Summer, Quebec ($75,000 - 100,000), is but one of five of his works available. W.P. Weston's Hollyburn Ridge ($60,000 - 80,000), Desolation ($50,000 - 70,000) and Yale, BC ($20,000 - 30,000), are also rare to the market.
"We are extremely pleased with the quality and variety of our consignments," said Robert Heffel, "the art market continues to be strong and vital, and our excellent selection of works, and the unprecedented consignment of the Helen E. Band Estate, will make our clients who attend the Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto previews feel as though they have entered a museum. With so many high calibre works in the sale, our previews will be on par with many museum exhibitions."
Tom Thomson
Early Spring, Canoe Lake
Heffel's Spring Auction in June of this year set fifteen records, and saw $11.5 million in combined sales. Three paintings joined the million-dollar club: Emily Carr's Wind in the Treetops ($2.16 million), Tom Thomson's Birches and Cedar, Fall ($1.4 million) and Jean-Paul Riopelle's Jouet ($1.17 million). Altogether, 40 Canadian paintings have sold for over one million dollars. As Heffel's has always known, when quality, rarity and the right estimate come to the market, exceptional results are achieved. With art currently being touted as one of the most reliable investment markets available, this sale, with the unique inclusion of the Band estate, will be without parallel in the Fall 2009 slate of Canadian fine art auctions.
Auction Date and Preview Schedule:
Auction
Thursday, November 26, 2009
4:00 PM, Canadian Post~War & Contemporary Art
7:00 PM, Fine Canadian Art
Park Hyatt Hotel
Queen's Park Ballroom
4 Avenue Road, Toronto
Preview at Heffel Gallery, Vancouver
2247 Granville Street
Saturday, October 31 through
Tuesday, November 3, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Preview at Galerie Heffel, Montreal
1840 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Thursday, November 12 through
Saturday, November 14, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Preview at Heffel Gallery, Toronto
13 & 14 Hazelton Avenue
Saturday, November 21 through
Wednesday, November 25, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, November 26, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Robert Heffel 604 732 6505 or 604 418 0100
robert@heffel.com
David Heffel 604 732 6505
david@heffel.com
|
