Category: Cowley Abbott Updates

  • Un chef-d’œuvre de William Kurelek fait ses débuts aux enchères chez Consignor

    Un paysage magnifique d’Emily Carr, une sculpture en or de 22 carats par le célèbre artiste Haïda Bill Reid et une toile enchanteresse de Daphne Odjig, sont parmi les points saillants de la vente aux enchères de Consignor, laquelle aura lieu le 29 mai à Toronto.

    Consignor Canadian Fine Art soulignera la diversité du Canada lors de la prochaine vente en salle semestrielle qui aura lieu le mardi 29 mai au musée Gardiner à Toronto. Le chef-d’œuvre de William Kurelek, Hot Day in Kensington Market (1972), figure parmi les œuvres exemplaires qui reflètent le multiculturalisme du Canada d’un océan à l’autre.

    La scène animée de Kurelek au marché Kensington à Toronto durant les années 70 représente diverses nationalités parmi les commerces locaux, y compris une boulangerie hongroise, une boucherie juive et un marché aux poissons portugais. Le tableau, toujours dans son cadre original (conçu par l’artiste), était l’une des 21 œuvres de Kurelek qui faisaient partie d’une exposition acclamée, « Toronto », que l’artiste décrit comme « représentant l’âme de la ville ». Bien que de nombreux tableaux de la série aient étés présentés aux enchères au cours des années, ce sera la première fois que Hot Day in Kensington Market sera sur le marché d’enchères (estimation de 150 000 $ – 200 000 $).

    « William Kurelek est l’un des artistes et conteurs les plus célèbres du Canada, bien-aimé pour ses thèmes fantaisistes et charmants, allant de ses souvenirs d’enfance dans une ferme au Manitoba à sa série bien connue de Toronto », dit Rob Cowley, président de Consignor. « Hot Day in Kensington Market est l’une des scènes représentant Toronto les plus populaires et les plus attrayantes, et il est considéré comme un travail important par les collectionneurs de Kurelek, célébrant l’identité canadienne, le multiculturalisme et la ville que l’artiste adorait, lors d’une chaude journée d’été ».

    La vente aux enchères du printemps de Consignor présentera également deux œuvres exceptionnelles d’artistes de renommée internationale et avant-gardistes de l’art autochtone, Daphne Odjig et Bill Reid. Odjig était la force motrice du groupe « The Professional Native Indian Artists Association », familièrement connue à l’époque sous le nom de « The Indian Group of Seven », et a contribué à faire connaître l’art autochtone au premier plan. Family Ties d’Odjig, une acrylique sur toile de 36” X 34″ peinte en 1981, n’a jamais été offerte aux enchères, venant d’une collection d’entreprise canadienne (estimation de 30 000 $ – 40 000 $).

    L’artiste Haïda Bill Reid était considéré comme le huitième membre non officiel du groupe d’artistes fondé par Odjig. Il a fait sa marque en tant que sculpteur, réputé pour ses œuvres monumentales représentant l’art et la vie Haïda. Reid est largement reconnu pour la revitalisation des arts autochtones de la côte du Nord-Ouest; il a créé des bijoux, de la sculpture de divers médiums, y compris du cèdre, du jade et de métaux précieux. Une sculpture rare en or de 22 carats, « Chief of the Undersea World » (valeur estimée de 125 000 $ à 175 000 $) a été sculptée pendant la période de production du monument de 18 pi en bronze à l’extérieur de l’aquarium de Vancouver. Ce sera la première édition en or de ses sculptures emblématiques d’orques à être offerte aux enchères.

    D’autres points saillants de la vente en salle du printemps 2018 de Consignor:

    Emily Carr, Logged Land, 23” x 34.75” huile sur papier montée sur toile (estimation 275 000 $ – 325 000 $)

    A.Y. Jackson, Ruisseau Jureux, 1931 huile sur toile (estimation 125 000 $ – 175 000 $)

    Marcelle Ferron, Sans titre, une figure majeure de la scène artistique québécoise (estimation 30 000 $ – 40 000 $)

    Jean McEwen, Les Fiançailles No. 5, une toile à grande échelle par un maître peintre Montréalais (estimation 25 000 $ – 35 000 $)

    Les œuvres d’art sont présentement exposées à la galerie Consignor Canadian Fine Art, au 326, rue Dundas Ouest. Pour de plus amples renseignements sur l’exposition et la vente en salle, ainsi que pour accéder au catalogue en ligne, veuillez consulter le site internet consignor.ca. La vente se tiendra le mardi 29 mai, au musée Gardiner (111, Queen’s Park, Toronto).

  • The February Online Auction of Works on Paper, Prints & Books: A Guide for Emerging Collectors

    Consignor’s Online Auction of Works on Paper, Prints & Books is a fantastic place to begin for someone new to the world of collecting art. The February sale offers a selection of prints, drawings, oil and watercolour paintings, photography and books to choose from in a broad range of prices, for both the emerging and seasoned collector. Purchasing a work on paper is often a more affordable opportunity to own an original work of art, or a print by a prominent artist whose original works are less accessible.

    Presented below are some great examples of quality artworks offered in the February auction, all of which have estimates below $1000. Browse by your preferred subject matter, from calming landscapes, still lifes and street scenes to bold abstracts and expressive figural works. Keep in mind there is a total of 237 lots in the auction, so please visit our online catalogue for the entire selection.

    LANDSCAPES

    Robert McInnis, Farm in Sunshine

    Lot #219: RFM McInnis
    Farm in Sunshine
    watercolour, 9 x 12 ins
    Estimated: $150.00 – $200.00

    Tom Forrestall, Lumber DealerLot #85: Thomas de Vany Forrestall
    Lumber Dealer
    watercolour, 9 x 12 ins
    Estimated: $700.00 – $900.00

    (more…)

  • 2017 In Review: A Year of Continued Success

    As we reflect on the past year, Consignor Canadian Fine Art wishes to extend our sincere appreciation to our clients and the Canadian art community for its continued support and participation throughout a momentous and record-breaking 2017.

    On November 23rd, Consignor held its Fall Live Auction of Important Canadian Art, the second of our semi-annual live auctions taking place at the Gardiner Museum. The sale presented a strong and well-rounded selection of artworks spanning across Canadian art history. Compositions by historical artists from Cornelius Krieghoff to the Group of Seven and the Beaver Hall Group were well represented in the sale. The auction also featured abstract paintings by members of post-war movements, including the Automatistes and Painters Eleven, as well as works by east coast realist painters and contemporary Canadian artists.  Continue Reading…

  • Lawren Harris Record Smashed during Strong Consignor Fall Live Auction

    Lawren Harris, Lake SuperiorLake Superior Fetches $161,100, Almost Tripling Previous Auction Record for a Work on Paper by the Group of Seven Artist

    (Toronto – November 23, 2017) – The preparatory work for of one of Lawren Harris’ most renowned canvases, Lake Superior (I.D. 463) sold for nearly five times its auction value setting a new record for a pencil sketch by the Group of Seven artist, fetching $161,000 (significantly above its pre-estimate of $20,000 – $30,000; all prices include a 15 per cent buyer’s premium, the lowest in the industry). The sketch made its auction debut last night at Consignor Canadian Fine Art’s live auction event in Toronto, smashing the previous record for a Harris sketch of $64,900. The exceptional quality of the sketchpad drawing, once owned by the painter’s wife, Bess Harris, along with its rarity and historical significance, helped to propel the bidding to achieve a new auction standard for a Harris work on paper.

    “Although we anticipated this exceptional work would garner significant interest, we’re thrilled to have achieved a new record result for this important piece of narrative in Harris’s creative process, particularly a sketch that is connected to one of his masterpieces,” said Rob Cowley, President of Consignor Canadian Fine Art. “Today’s results continue to illustrate Harris as one of our country’s most celebrated and iconic artists.”

    Another highlight of Consignor’s fall auction was a watercolour painted in 1911 by Emily Carr during her artistic training in France.  European Street Scene nearly doubled its opening bid to sell for $276,000 (including premium).  The painting was one of many notable works acquired this past summer during Consignor’s Art Roadshow that travelled to 10 cities from coast-to-coast, inviting the public to bring in works of art for valuation. European Street Scene emerged out of the firm’s visit to Calgary during the tour.

    Solid auction results were also achieved for the following works collected from across Canada:

    • A.J. Casson, Bridge Over Humber River, one of the first outdoor sketches by the artist, sold for $32,200, exceeding its pre-sale high estimate. Consigned from a collector in British Columbia.
    • Alex Colville, Recording Line Zero, Near Nijmegen, a rare war-period watercolour fetched $34,500, one of the highest prices ever achieved for a work on paper by the artist. Secured from a collection in New Brunswick.
    • Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis, the most popular subject by the East Coast artist, fetched $20,700 (doubling its opening bid, $10,000 – $15,000). This was another work discovered during Consignor’s Art Roadshow in Ottawa. The painting, inherited from the owner’s mother, was tucked away in the family’s basement for decades. It was secured during Consignor’s summer travels when a friend had alerted the owner to the possibility she owned a popular and valuable Maud Lewis work, after seeing a similar painting in the news that was sold by Consignor in the spring for $36,800 (an auction record for the artist). It was a tremendous evening for the work of Maud Lewis, with all seven works on offer achieving prices in excess of the high-end of pre-sale expectation and one rare, large-scale painting, Team of Oxen Ploughing, selling for $32,200, within reach of Consignor’s existing auction record for the painter.

    Post-War and Contemporary selections attracted fierce bidding throughout the evening auction, with many works achieving prices at or above pre-auction estimates.

    Featured on the front cover of the Fall Auction catalogue, Michael Snow‘s 1958 canvas Off Minor attracted strong bidding on Thursday evening, the rare painting selling for $57,500, at the high end of expectation. The painting had been held in a single Toronto collection for decades following its creation, the Consignor auction its first opportunity for acquisition since the late 1950s.

    Consignor Vice President and Senior Specialist Lydia Abbott shared, “We are thrilled with the performance of our catalogue cover lot by Michael Snow, a result which underscores collector’s interest in the period of the artist’s career as well as the significance of the period in Canadian art history.”

    Two works by Prairies painter William Kurelek captivated collectors during Consignor’s month-long previews, leading to feverish competition within the auction gallery, Arrived Too Early achieving $29,900 (just short of doubling its estimate) and I Hate Water (A Cat’s Loss of Dignity), portraying a feline’s unexpected dip in a pond, selling for $25,300 (exceeding the high-end of expectation).

    Saskatchewan painter William Perehudoff‘s canvases proved to be in demand during the evening, AC-78-20 nearly doubled its opening bid to sell for $27,600, while Arcturus #32 was hammered down at $14,950, to more than double its opening bid after a battle in the auction gallery.

    Consignor Canadian Fine Art closes their fall sale with a November/December Online Auction (with bidding open between November 29th and December 6th). The firm has already begun collecting for their 2018 auctions, including the Spring Live Auction of Important Canadian Art, scheduled to take place in late May (date to be announced).