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For immediate release
Vancouver, October 2, 2007
Records were set and hundreds of thousands of dollars changed hands last weekend in Heffel's September on line auction. While the $628,532 was modest for an art auction total, it set a record for the highest grossing Canadian Post-War and Contemporary Sale in an online auction. It is proof that another strong art market is emerging in Canada.
"Heffel built its business by reselling paintings by the likes of Emily Carr, the Group of Seven and the most famous and talented of Canadian artists. It's still a big focus of our business," says David Heffel, president Heffel Fine Art Auction House. "Nina Kim in our Toronto office is the head of our Post War Contemporary Art Department and her expertise has grown Heffel's position as the Canadian leader for this segment of the market. Our on line auctions provide collectors a chance to purchase great art at reasonable prices."
The heated buying interest in Post-War period art (works from 1945 to the 1970's) was demonstrated by bidding wars on some pieces for more than hour beyond bidding deadlines.
"The record prices for Post-War & Contemporary Canadian Art are a testament to the aggressive growth and strong interest in this area of the market worldwide," says Robert Heffel, vice-president Heffel Fine Art Auction House. "Post-war and contemporary art has reached unprecedented levels in New York and London auctions and in Canada. With the aid of the Internet, we are much more visible and greatly impacted by the performance of international art markets."
Highlight sales results in the Heffel's September on line auction:
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Thomas Sherlock Hodgson
Untitled - oil on canvas
signed and dated 1959
61 x 84 in
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Sold for $48,875 (highest price at auction includes Buyers' Premium (BP))
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Raymond John Mead
Summer - oil on canvas
signed and dated 1959 and on verso titled
45 x 48 in
Estimate: $7,000 - $9,000
Sold for $43,125 (second highest price at auction includes BP)
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Raymond John Mead
Winter - oil on canvas
signed and dated 1960 and on verso titled
40 x 38 in
Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000
Sold for $46,000 (highest price at auction includes BP)
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Ronald Langley Bloore
Untitled ~ oil on board
on verso signed, dated August 1960 and inscribed "Bloore Studio"
47 1/2 x 47 1/2 in
Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000
Sold for $43,125 (second highest price at auction includes BP)
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The Heffels have been aggressively chasing top notch Post War consignments. They currently run a two-page spread in Canadian Art Magazine's Summer and Winter issues advertising their three core sales of September/March (Contemporary), October/April (International) and November/May (Canadian Art).
The Heffel's on line auction for October 2007 features over 200 works by a wide range of top International artists. The work can be previewed and bid on at www.heffel.com.
Several important contemporary works are to be included in Heffel Fine Art Auction House's fall auction, which takes place at Toronto's Park Hyatt Hotel at 7:00pm on Friday, November 23, 2007. Contemporary artists represented include Jean-Paul Riopelle, Ronald Bloore, Jack Shadbolt and Paul-Emile Borduas. The Heffel's national presence with offices / galleries in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, has generated major consignments from coast to coast.
Media contact:
Ross Sullivan
Peak Communicators Ltd. (for Heffel Fine Art Auction House)
#403-1155 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1B5
office: 604-689-5559
fax: 604-689-5519
cell: 604-802-7139
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