News
Nov. 24/05

$12-Million Art Auction Breaks Previous Record For Largest Dollar-Value Art Auction in Canadian History

A record for the largest dollar-value art auction in Canadian history was set Nov. 24th/05 in Toronto by Heffel Fine Art Auction House. This was almost $3.6-million more than the previous record that Heffel set one year ago at its semi-annual November sale in Toronto.

Leading the way was The Bird Shop, St. Lawrence Street by Maurice Cullen, that sold for $1.495-million, including buyer’s premium. Earning the second-largest amount was a rare Rocky Mountain landscape by J.E.H. MacDonald. Lake O’Hara and Cathedral Mountain, Rockies, painted in 1928 sold for $977,500. including buyer’s premium.

Both of Tom Thomson’s oil canvas works sold above estimates: “South Shore of Canoe Lake, Algonquin Park” sold for $460,000. and ‘Sketch for Grey Day in the North” went for $184,000.

“There were bidders from across Canada, as well as phone bidders from the United States, the U.K., Norway, and various parts of Asia, all attempting to land works by some of Canada’s best artists.” David Heffel.

Source: The Globe and Mail, November 25, 2005