Lawren Harris works top $7 million as ballroom bidding lights up Heffel House auction

• Record auction of the Heffel House in Toronto totals more than $20 million
• Six major works by Lawrence Harris totaled an incredible $7.3 millionled by two masterpieces each surpassing $2 million
• Order the canvas by Marcelle Ferron broke the previous artist record, and by Andy Warhol iconic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II breaks the world record of published impressions for the artist

TORONTO, November 24, 2022 /CNW/ – Today in Torontoand in front of a global audience, a collection of monumental masterpieces has reached incredible heights at Heffel Fine Art Auction Househighly anticipated fall sale. The historic, record-breaking auction presented 87 works of art by renowned historical and contemporary artists to an eager market at the beautiful Park Hyatt hotel. Dazzling collectors and leading the charge were Lawren Harris, Andy Warhol, Marcelle Ferron and Thomas Thomson. Competition from passionate bidders who filled the crowded auction room, as well as remote participants on the phone and via Heffel’s digital auction room, drove the sale total to an extraordinary level. $20.8 million. (All prices are in Canadian dollars and include a buyer’s premium.)

Six works by Lawrence Harris captured the hearts of art lovers and collectors and led the Heffel House fall auction, totaling an exceptional price $7.3 million. His canvas of an optimistic urban landscape, House in the Neighborhood, Winter, Town Painting #1from a prestigious corporate collection, exceeded the $2 million Mark. Three extraordinary oil sketches by Harris, among the best ever to come to market, made their auction debuts this fall at the House of Heffel, and each one has done exceptionally well. From Lake Berg, evening, Arctic Sketch XV and Sketch of Lake Superior XI were acquired by the Lyle family in 1936, straight from Harris’ workshop, with the help of Harris’ son, and have been cared for by the family ever since. The sender of the works, who was seated in the front row of the auction room, was on the verge of tears as the hammer slammed into the last of the works and delivered a heartfelt “thank you” to the auctioneer.

“The passion and confidence of our bidders this season, many of whom were in the ballroom, was evident to all as attendees enthusiastically put out bids well above asking prices,” said Robert Heffel, vice-president of the Heffel art auction house. “We are honored to have presented so many phenomenal works by Canadian and international giants who will continue their journey into wonderful new homes.”

Fall 2022 Live Auction Highlights

• canvases of Lawrence Harris are among the most sought-after works on the Canadian art market, and his blockbuster House in the Neighborhood, Winter, Town Painting #1 caught the eye this fall. At the top of the auction, the painting sold for $2,521,250 (is. $2,000,000 – 3,000,000).
• Three radiant museum-quality paintings of Lawrence Harris were entrusted to the House of Heffel this fall by the descendants of John Lylethe architect behind Union Station and other iconic Toronto buildings. The superb Arctic Sketch XV sold at an exceptional price of $2,041,250 (is. $600,000 – 800,000), closely followed by From Lake Berg, evening who recovered $1,561,250 (is. $600,000 – 800,000) and Sketch of Lake Superior XI, which sold for $871,250 (is. $300,000 – 500,000).
• A key piece by a female automatist painter Marcelle Ferron leads the Post-War and Contemporary Art Session and broke the auction record for his work. The striking masterpiece sold for $1,801,250 at the Heffel House autumn auction. A culmination of previews across the country, the 1962 canvas is truly museum quality (est. $200,000 – 300,000).
• The crown jewel of the auction, by Andy Warhol coveted portrait of Queen Elizabeth II surpassed the $1 million mark and broke the world auction record for all Warhol editions ever sold at auction. The royal blue serigraphy of the ultra-rare Royal Edition, dazzling with diamond dust, sold for $1,141,250 (is. $500,000 – 600,000).
• by Tom Thomson rare and important Moccasin Flower or Orchids, Algonquin Park once proudly belonged to Blair Laing, the legendary Canadian art dealer, and his family. The dramatic oil sketch, called a “national treasure” by the historian Joan Murraysold above its estimate for $1,501,250 (is. $1,000,000 – 1.5 million).
• James Wilson Morrice ParisView from studio windowa major canvas and a magnificent example of early Canadian Impressionism sold for a remarkable price of $721,250 (is. $600,000 – 800 000).
• Competing offers in the auction room and on the phone drove up the selling price of John Paul Lemieux Twelfth Night at $1,081,250. The spectacular large-scale canvas is among the artist’s most impressive works ever marketed (est. $600,000 – 800 000).
• Outstanding examples from four important artists reached new heights at the fall auction. World auction records have been broken for Sybil Andrewsincluding the famous Speedway sold for $133,250 (is. $70,000 – 90,000), Regina Seiden with Market for $115,250 (is. $20,000 – 30,000) and Guillaume Perehudoff with Zephrus #2 for $157,250 (is. $30,000 – 50,000).

Maison Heffel is currently accepting consignments for the Spring 2023 auction season, including international works of art. The deadline for spring submissions is February 2023.

For more information on the works included in the House of Heffel Fall Live Auction, visit heffel.com.

About Heffel Fine Art Auction House
Since 1978, the House of Heffel has connected passionate collectors around the world with exceptional works of art, with sales totaling three quarters of a billion dollars. With offices at Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and CalgaryHeffel has the most experienced team of fine art specialists in Canada and provides superior customer service to sellers and buyers internationally.

SOURCE Heffel Fine Art Auction House

For further information: To schedule an interview, or for images and a B-roll, please contact: Rebecca Rykiss, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, [email protected], 416-961-6505 ext. 323