TORONTO, May 31, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Profiling the best of Canadian art from coast to coast to coast, Waddington's inaugural Art of Canada auction presented a unique combination of works created by our country's artistic masters. The May 30, 2016 auction included works by Inuit and First Nations artists as well as Canadian historical, modern and contemporary artists.
Linda Rodeck, Vice President Fine Art, Waddington's noted, "We know that the best collectors in this country have always been receptive to an inclusive view of our cultural and artistic heritage. Their enthusiastic response to this auction cements our commitment to breaking down the artificial categories within Canadian Art."
Appreciation for all genres of Canadian art was reflected in excellent prices for Canadian historical works by Frederick Arthur Verner; works by the Group of Seven Lawren Harris, Frank Hans Johnston, J.E.H. MacDonald and their associates Emily Carr, Frederick Banting; and contemporary works by Ulysse Comtois, Jean Albert McEwen, and Takao Tanabe. Exceptional results achieved by works by Inuit artists Kiawak Ashoona, Josephie Pootoogook, and Joe Talirunili.
Highlights of the auction include:
Frank Hans Johnston, Waterfall, Algoma – oil on panel, $204,000
Lawren Harris, Algoma Sketch – oil on panel, $180,000
Jean Albert McEwen, Blason du Chevalier Rouge – oil on canvas, $85,000
Ulysse Comtois, Matière – Lumière - oil on canvas, $62,400
Joe Talirunili, Migration – stone sculpture, $55,200
Kiawak Ashoona, Bird Spirit – stone sculpture, $26,400
Joe Talirunili, Archer – stone sculpture, $24,000
Emily Carr, Beaver Pot – painted ceramic, $20,400
Christa Ouimet, Senior Specialist Inuit Art, observed that clients who travelled from the U.S. and the U.K. specifically for the Inuit art were also delighted to be introduced to "Canadian art" during the public previews. Rodeck concurred that the Art of Canada concept was less of a juxtaposition, and more of a complementary alignment, for many of her traditional Canadian Fine Art collectors.
Waddington's conducted its first auction of Canadian Art in 1967 and first auction of Inuit Art in 1978. Prices are quoted in CDN and include buyer's premium.
Highlight details
Frank Hans Johnston, O.S.A., A.R.C.A.
WATERFALL, ALGOMA, 1920
Pre-sale estimate $100,000–150,000
Price realised $204,000
Lawren Stewart Harris
ALGOMA SKETCH, 1919
Pre-sale estimate $150,000–175,000
Price realised $180,000
Jean Albert McEwen, R.C.A.
BLASON DU CHEVALIER ROUGE
Pre-sale estimate $70,000–90,000
Price realised $85,000
Ulysse Comtois
MATIÈRE - LUMIÈRE
Pre-sale estimate $6,000–8,000
Price realised $62,400
James Edward Hervey MacDonald, O.S.A., R.C.A.
FREIGHT YARD, TORONTO
Pre-sale estimate $15,000–20,000
Price realised $50,400
William Kurelek, R.C.A.
TROMPE L'OEIL WITH DOLLAR BILL, 1958
Pre-sale estimate $5,000–7,000
Price realised $22,800
William Kurelek, R.C.A
A GROUP OF NINE DRAWINGS, 1969:
Milking in Fly Season (Milking Cow in Fly-Season), Cooling Milk, Making Chop, Castrating Pigs, Feeding Hay Cattle in Winter (Feeding Hay from the Loft), Making Butter (Making Butter in Sealers), Shovelling Grain at Threshing Time (Shovelling in the Granary during Threshing), Formaldehyding Grain, Chopping Mangles
Pre-sale estimate $60,000–80,000
Price realised $84,000
Frederick Arthur Verner, O.S.A., A.R.C.A.
BISON FORAGING IN WINTER
Pre-sale estimate $20,000–30,000
Price realised $50,400
Pauta Saila
DANCING POLAR BEAR
Pre-sale estimate $40,000–60,000
Price realised $60,000
Joe Talirunili
MIGRATION
Pre-sale estimate $15,000–20,000
Price realised $55,200
Frederick Grant Banting
FORT RESOLUTION
Pre-sale estimate $12,000–15,000
Price realised $38,400
Kiawak Ashoona, O.C., R.C.A.
BIRD SPIRIT
Pre-sale estimate $10,000–15,000
Price realised $26,400
Josephie Pootoogook
JOYFULLY I SEE TEN CARIBOU
Pre-sale estimate $6,000–9,000
Price realised $15,600
Tudlik
DIVISION OF MEAT
Pre-sale estimate $6,000–9,000
Price realised $15,600
Johnny Inukpuk, R.C.A.
A WOMAN LIFTING HER YOUNG CHILD
Pre-sale estimate $10,000-15,000
Price realised $18,000
Joe Talirunili
ARCHER
Pre-sale estimate $4,000–6,000
Price realised $24,000
Alfred Joseph Casson, O.S.A., P.R.C.A.
COMBERMERE, 1968
Pre-sale estimate $20,000–30,000
Price realised $33,600
Marion Long, O.S.A., R.C.A.
IN THE WARD
Pre-sale estimate $3,000–5,000
Price realised $18,000
Takao Tanabe
THE LAND /16
Pre-sale estimate $15,000–18,000
Price realised $31,200
Takao Tanabe
BANFF, THE LAND:17-73
Pre-sale estimate $9,000–12,000
Price realised $24,000
About Waddington's
Waddington's, a Canadian auction and appraisal company, has been in business since 1850, serving Canadian and international clients in a diverse offering of specialty areas including Asian, Canadian, Contemporary, First Nations, Inuit and International Art, as well as Decorative Arts, Fine Jewellery and Fine Wine & Spirits.
Waddington's Spring Auction Season continues June 13, 2016 with Asian Art. Visit www.waddingtons.ca for the full auction schedule.
Waddington's Auctioneers
275 King Street East
Toronto, Canada, M5A 1K2
www.waddingtons.ca
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