A record for the largest dollar-valued art auction in Canadian history was set last night in Toronto by Heffel Fine Art House.
Heffel, which is headquartered in Vancouver, sold more than 230 lots for an astonishing $12-million, including the 15-per-cent premium it charges buyers on the purchase price. More than 10 records in total were set. 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 in an extremely strong showing was The Bird Shop, St. Lawrence Street, a large oil completed around 1920 by Quebec master Maurice Galbraith Cullen, that sold for $1.495-million, including premium. This was about five times higher than its high-end presale estimate. It also smashed the old record of $420,000 (excluding premium) for a Cullen set in 2002.

Posted: 11|25|05 at 10:07 am. Filed under: US News.