Seven folk art paintings by Maud Lewis combine for $198,380 (Canadian) in Miller & Miller auction

NEW HAMBURG, Ontario - Feb. 16, 2023 - PRLog -- Six original oil on board paintings by the renowned Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis (1903-1970), plus a watercolor and pen on paper by Ms. Lewis, sold for a combined $198,830 in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.'s online-only Canadiana & Folk Art auction held on February 11^th. Nearly 300 lots in a wide array of categories came up for bid.

All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.

As expected, the Maud Lewis painting titled Three Black Cats was the group's top achiever. It sold for $44,250. The other oil on boards included Spring Scene ($35,400); Horse Pulling Logs ($24,780); Sandy Cove Harbour Scene ($25,960); Oxen in Winter ($23,600); and Covered Bridge ($25,960). The watercolor and pen on paper, titled Harbour Scene, doubled as a handwritten letter, folded in quarters into a card and addressed to Eva Gray, a teacher, cousin and friend. It brought $18,880.

Maud Lewis has, over time, become one of Canada's most renowned artists, the subject of numerous monographs, novels, plays, documentaries, and even a feature film. She was born into relative comfort and obscurity, but died in poverty, despite enjoying national fame. She overcame severe physical challenges to create an artistic style uniquely hers.

Another Nova Scotia folk artist – Joe Norris (1924-1996) – also did well in the auction, as four of his paintings combined for a total of $49,560. The top seller was a circa 1980 oil on canvas titled The Lighthouse and Three Schooners, a large (39 inches by 59 inches, less frame) depiction of a fishing village including lobster boats and fishermen ($22,420).

The other works by Norris were a powerful enamel on board from 1991 titled Schooner Taking Shelter from the Storm ($10,030); a simple and colorful enamel on board from 1987 titled Deer at the Salt Water Pond ($9,440); and a striking Lower Prospect (Nova Scotia) enamel on board from 1970 titled Six Gulls ($7,670). All exceeded estimates.

Next up for Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. are a Petroliana & Advertising auction on Saturday, March 11^th; a two-day sale later on in the month: a Canadiana & Decorative Arts auction on Saturday, March 25^th and a Historic Lamps & Lighting auction on March 26^th; and the exclusive sale of the Jean-Marc and Danielle Belzile Collection on Saturday, May 13^th. All are online-only.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the firm's upcoming events, please visit www.millerandmillerauctions.com.