A Royal Blue Print of Queen Elizabeth II sold in Toronto last week for $1141,250 Canadian (855,600 USD).
The diamond-dusted Royal Edition is one of four images of the late monarch from Warhol’s 1985 “Reigning Queen” series. The piece was sold at the Heffel auction house on Nov. 24, and its closing amount, which includes fees and buyer’s premiums, far exceeded the estimate of $375,000–$450,000.
Robert Heffel, vice president of Heffel auction house, said the company’s monthly online auctions, interest in the live sale, as well as the auction activity in New York helped boost confidence that many items would do well, not just the print of Queen Elizabeth II. He also served as the auctioneer at the Warhol sale.
Lawren Harris, a Group of Seven painter, also enjoyed a great night. Six of his works sold for more that $5.72million. The seller, Nora Lyle, bought three of the small oil and board paintings directly from Harris’ son in the 1930s. “She had the pick of many Lawren Harris’ and she chose really, really well,” Heffel told ARTnews.
Harris’s Arctic Sketch XV For $1.5 million Berg Lake, Evening Available for $1.17million Sketch of Lake Superior Purchase for $653,000.
Marcelle Ferron, a 1962 piece of artwork by a female automatist, also set an auction-record at the live event. The untitled canvas was almost six times the high estimate and sold for $1.35million.