Richmond Hill, ON – January 18 marks the first auction of the year at 888 Auctions. Collectors will be delighted to find the inclusion of 399 fresh-to-market items with prices ranging in the hundreds to the thousands of dollars. Featuring Modern Art, Jewelry & Asian Antiques, the sale brings renewed focus and interest for the Richmond Hill based auction house.

After a year in which the auction house achieved over $2.5 million in total revenue with over 5,700 items finding new owners in over 40 different countries, 888 auctions continues to produce strong prices in a number of categories. 2017 was a particularly important year, as the Canadian auction house broke with tradition and started conducting two auctions a month, with one of the auctions placing a special emphasis on numismatic items and collectables. 888 Auctions continues to find new and better ways to attract clients from all over the world, connecting discerning collectors with dealers of ancient items and decorative arts.

Although Asian arts and antiques remain  a staple offering at 888 Auctions, modern and contemporary art became a common theme over the latter half of 2017. There is no reason to suspect that that will change and the January 18 sale is no exception. The star lot of the auction is Lot 92, an Anthony R. Falbo (b. 1953) Cubist Painting. The oil on canvas piece featuring a cubist rendering of a woman, lot 92 carries a high estimate of $15,500.

Another painting features a piece from the master painter, Zhang Daqian. Lot 18 features a Chinese Watercolour of Beauty and boasts impressive provenance. The hanging scroll features a Tang style of a beauty in ink and colour, signed Zhang Daqian. It hails from the private collection of Zhen Dao Ma (1907-1956), who purchased the scroll painting from Zhang Daqian’s studio in Taiwan and has since been passed down by descent. The painting commands a high estimate of $23,000.

From the collection of modern paintings, there are some familiar names to be had at the following lots:

Lot 37: Egon Schiele (Austrian 1890-1918) Gouache on Paper (High Estimate: $15,500)

Lot 87: Taylor Carson Irish 1919-2008 Shoreline Donegal (High Estimate: $3,000)

Lot 94: Hans Hofmann (American/German 1880-1966) OOC (High Estimate: $30,000)

Lot 96: Attr. John Singer Sargent 1856-1925 OOB Women (High Estimate: $12,000)            

Lot 101: Milton Resnick (American 1917-2004) Oil on Canvas (High Estimate: $25,000)

Lot 102: Attr. Philip Guston (American 1913-1980) OOC (High Estimate: $18,000)

Lot 103: Stuart Davis (American 1892-1964) OOC Abstract (High Estimate: $18,000)

Lot 112: Empreinte Originale De Picasso J.149 No. 234/500 (High Estimate: $1,200)

An auction happening in the dead of winter in Toronto would not be complete without Canadian art and as such, the auction features artists, both big and small, in the January 18 sale. Highlighting Canadian art is Lot 74 and 72, both painted by Jack Wheldon Humphrey (Canadian, 1901-1967). Featuring an abstract expressionist oil on canvas painting, Lot 74 and Lot 75 are both expected to surpass their high estimates of $800 and $600, respectively.

Other Canadian art can be found at the following lots:

Lot 72: Evgeni Tomov Canadian OOC Seascape Rocks (High Estimate: $1,200)

Lot 78: Jocelyn Taylor 1899-1992 Woodward's Cove Oil Board (High Estimate: $600)

Lot 80: L. Scott Brewster Oil on Canvas "View from the Garden" (High Estimate: $900)

For auction previews, visit the gallery floor at 888 Auctions. The viewing period is as follows: Monday, January 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, January 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, January 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and just before the auction on Thursday, January 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

888 Auctions continues to accept consignments on a rolling basis and with bi-monthly auctions taking place at the auction house, there are plenty of opportunities to sell rare and fresh-to-market items at 888 Auctions. Valuations and authentications of priceless items are complimentary with no obligations to consign. The next scheduled auction featuring numismatic items takes place Thursday, February 1 2018 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT).