Home / Arts and Entertainment / Barn Sale Surprise: $50 Painting Sells for $349,250
Barn Sale Surprise: $50 Painting Sells for $349,250
26 Sep
Summary
- An Emily Carr painting bought for $50 sold for $349,250 at auction.
- The discovered artwork, "Masset, Q.C.I.," was painted in 1912.
- The painting was found at a Hamptons barn sale after decades in storage.
An art dealer discovered a significant Canadian artwork at a Hamptons barn sale, initially buying it for a mere $50. This painting was later authenticated as "Masset, Q.C.I.," a 1912 oil on canvas by the renowned Canadian artist Emily Carr. The work depicts an Indigenous memorial post in Masset, British Columbia, and dates from a pivotal period in Carr's career documenting Indigenous subjects.
The painting's journey included a period of study in France around 1910-1911, evidenced by an inscription on its reverse. It is believed Carr gifted the artwork to friends in the 1930s, who eventually moved to the Hamptons. The painting remained with their family, stored in a barn for decades.
Offered at a November 20, 2024 auction, "Masset, Q.C.I." garnered significant interest. Heffel Fine Art Auction House estimated its value between C$100,000 and C$200,000. Ultimately, competitive bidding drove the final hammer price to C$290,000, with the total cost reaching C$349,250, marking it as a remarkable bargain find.
