Emily Carr painting: Barn sale find sells for $290K
TORONTO – Emily Carr Painting Sells for C$290,000 at Toronto Auction
An exquisite Emily Carr painting, titled “Masset, Q.C.I.”, which was originally purchased for a mere US$50 at an estate sale, recently fetched an impressive C$290,000 at a prestigious auction held in Toronto.
Heffel Fine Art Auction House announced that the painting surpassed expectations by selling for $290,000 during its fall sale on Wednesday night, exceeding the presale estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.
With the buyer’s commission included, the total price for the artwork amounted to $349,250.
The captivating oil on canvas piece portrays a carved grizzly bear perched atop a memorial totem pole in the village of Masset, B.C., situated on Haida Gwaii.
This masterpiece was serendipitously discovered a few months ago at a barn sale in the Hamptons, where a discerning New York-based art dealer acquired it for a mere US$50.
“Masset, Q.C.I.” was crafted by Carr in 1912 as part of her dedicated efforts to document the rich artistic heritage of the First Nations communities in British Columbia.
Believed to have been a gift from Carr to her close friends Nell Cozier and her husband in the 1930s, the painting had been quietly adorning a barn in the Hamptons ever since. The Cozier couple had relocated to the area to serve as caretakers for a grand estate after originally residing in Victoria.
This article, based on a report by The Canadian Press, was initially published on November 20, 2024.
