Ted Harrison art a big draw at Charman auction
A large Ted Harrison painting titled Magnificent Yukon beat its auction estimate to sell for $60,000 online, bringing in the top price at sale of items from the estates of Eric and Shirley Charman.
All five Harrison paintings sold through Lunds Auctioneers and Appraisals on April 27 via an online auction brought in strong prices.
Born in England, Harrison moved to Canada where he became renowned for colourful paintings portraying the Yukon. He died in Victoria in 2015.
Lunds had estimated that the Magnificent Yukon acrylic-oncanvas painting, 48 inches by 64 inches, would sell for between $25,000 and $35,000.
Another Harrison painting, Paddlewheeler, sold for $55,000 — well above the estimate of $10,000 to $15,000 for the 36-inch by 24-inch artwork.
The strong prices “really shows that Eric had a bit of an eye. He was a keen collector of good things,” said Lunds president Peter Boyle.
Boyle was “pleasantly surprised” by the sale prices for the Harrison works.
Each went to a different buyer. Some will stay in Greater Victoria, while others are leaving the Island.
Because of COVID-19, the sale was online. More than 1,000 people were watching.
“I know the estate is going to be very happy and I think Eric would have been happy,” Boyle said.
Boyle compared the interest in the Donnington auction — named after the Charmans’ former farm on the Saanich Peninsula — to the Ross auction in October 2016. Anne-Lee Ross, who died in 2007, was married to Ian Ross, whose family created Butchart Gardens. He died in 1997.
About 400 people showed up in person to the Crystal Ballroom at the Fairmont Empress Hotel for that event, while others bid online.
A few of the items sold at the auction are heading to Europe, with one dinnerware set on its way to Russia.
The Charmans were major supporters and fundraisers for organizations such as the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera.
Their black lacquered Steinway grand piano, played by celebrities at charity events, sold for $19,000 at the auction. The sale price had been estimated at between $10,000 and $15,000.
Boyle said the piano will be going to a “public place” but would not say more.
Eric Charman’s 2001 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph found an off-Island buyer who paid $32,000.
The estimated value of the car before the auction was $40,000 to $50,000.