Art

Art appraiser comes to Vic, looking for the next unnoticed treasures

Published

3 months ago

July 4, 2024

“We’re looking for people who are art enthusiasts, whether they have questions about paintings on their wall, or whether they know exactly what they have on their wall …”

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Art appraiser comes to Vic, looking for the next unnoticed treasures

Sketch for Lake in Algonquin Park, by Tom Thomson. Photo: Heffel Fine Art Auction House

If you have a painting or sculpture you think could be worth more than the dust collecting on it, here’s your chance to find out.

It’s happened before: In 2018, a 71-year-old retired nurse thought her late father was joking all those years ago when he said that the lake painting sitting over the family fireplace was an authentic Tom Thomson.

Glenna Gardiner had long forgotten the painting, which sat for years in her Edmonton basement. But she got curious about it one day and called a friend—who called the professionals.

Lauren Kratzer, national director of consignments at Heffel Fine Art Auction House remembers taking the phone call.

“She had a friend in Edmonton who sent it to her, along with a note saying, ‘You’re the only person who believed in this painting. If it’s not real, keep it and if it’s real, we’ll sell it and we’ll go on a cruise.’”

Fast-forward a bit and the painting (above) turned out to be the real deal, fetching $481,250 at auction. And yes, the friends did go on that cruise. “And Heffel was very happy to buy them a set of luggage,” Kratzer tells Capital Daily.

A Victoria man also scored bigtime

There was also a feel-good story out of Victoria that same year. A man brought in a painting signed by English-born Sybil Andrews who moved to Campbell River after the Second World War and whose paintings were rediscovered by the art world in the 1970s and 80s. He had bought the art at a thrift shop—using his seniors’ discount to lower the $70 price—and wanted to know what it was really worth.

“And again, once we saw that painting and had it in our hands, there was no question that it was a real Sybil Andrews and we sold it for just over $50K.”

Who knows if lightning can strike thrice but art enthusiasts curious about the value of their artwork—be that a painting or sculpture—can make an appointment to meet Kratzer next Tuesday or Wednesday (July 9 & 10) to find out what they’ve got on their hands. Kratzer is coming to Victoria on the hunt for art to auction.

Kratzer, who is based out of Vancouver, says there are a lot of collections that have been well-established in Victoria.

Island has artistry

“There’s, of course, a few artists that are of particular interest to Canadian art, like Emily Carr and E.J. Hughes, who are well-known around the world. But of course, they lived on Vancouver Island, so we tend to see a higher concentration of works by those very important artists.”

The appraiser, in this case, Kratzer—will visit people’s homes to examine the art, and—will look at a painting’s brush strokes and composition as well as what kind of materials were used.

Thomson—who is not a member of the Group of Seven, having died before the group formed—liked to use small boards so he could easily move them, for example.

The painting itself is not the only way to glean information—the back also can be a treasure trove of clues to its origin. Is there a signature on the back? A title, or inscription? Sometimes the artist puts the date there. Gallery labels will indicate whether the artwork has been sold or displayed previously.

“We’re looking for people who are art enthusiasts, whether they have questions about paintings on their wall, or whether they know exactly what they have on their walls and want to learn more about them, or have up-to-date valuations,” Kratzer says.

Here’s how to book a meeting

If you have a sculpture or painting—it doesn’t have to be from Thomson, Carr, Hughes, or Andrews—you can book an appointment by contacting mail@heffel.com or calling 604-732-6505.

“We have had such a positive response that we will be coming back for another visit,” Kratzer tells Capital Daily. “So, we’d still encourage people to contact us, and we’d be happy to come back later in the summer.”

*Steamer Arriving at Nanaimo* by E.J. Hughes. Photo: Heffel Fine Art Auction House

This signed (on the back) 1950 work from Edward John (E.J.) Hughes entitled Steamer Arriving at Nanaimo is oil on canvas. It sold for $841,250 (including buyer’s premium) in 2020. Here are some other results from Heffel auctions.

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Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

6 days ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.

More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.

The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.

They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.

“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”

It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.

Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.

“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.

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Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

3 weeks ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.