In 2024, a Hamptons shopper paid $50 for a barn-sale painting. Experts identified it as Emily Carr’s 1912 artwork, which later sold for $290,000 at auction

A painting bought for just $50 at a Hamptons barn sale ended up being a 1912 work by celebrated Canadian artist Emily Carr. What initially looked like an inexpensive find was later authenticated as Carr’s Masset, Q.C.I. and eventually sold for C$290,000 at auction.

The painting had been discovered by New York-based art dealer Allen Treibitz, who came across it at a barn sale in the Hamptons. He paid just $50 for the signed canvas. The report is based ona report by The Art Newspaper, Artforum and Artnet.

At the time, Treibitz was not familiar with Carr’s work or her history. But the painting caught his attention among the other objects at the sale. “it stood out from everything else in that barn,” he told the Canadian Press.


After researching the work online, Treibitz contacted Heffel Fine Art Auction House in Vancouver to find out more about the painting. His instinct proved correct, experts determined that the work was an authentic Emily Carr painting.

What made the $50 painting so significant?

Titled Masset, Q.C.I., the 1912 oil on canvas measures about 41cm by 33cm. It depicts an Indigenous memorial post topped by a carved grizzly bear in the village of Masset, located on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii archipelago, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, as per Art Newspaper.

Carr, who was born in Victoria to British immigrant parents, was closely associated with the celebrated Group of Seven landscape artists. She was also known for documenting First Nations in British Columbia around the turn of the twentieth century.

The painting is believed to have been given by Carr to her friend Nell Cozier and her husband in the 1930s. The couple were originally from Victoria but later moved to the Hamptons to work on a large estate. The artwork is believed to have remained in a barn there for decades.

The back of the painting also carries the inscription “Miss Carr/chez R. Charbo 96 Bvld Montparnasse,” which is believed to refer to Carr’s time studying in Paris around 1910 and 1911.

How much did Emily Carr’s painting sell for?

When Masset, Q.C.I. was first announced for auction, Heffel estimated that it could sell for between C$100,000 and C$200,000, equivalent at the time to roughly US$74,000 to US$148,000. The painting was scheduled for Heffel’s November 20, 2024 auction in Toronto, as per Art Newspaper.

David Heffel, president of the auction house, described the discovery as an unusual find. “There was no doubt in my mind that this was an exciting Cinderella discovery,” he told the Canadian Press.

The painting ultimately exceeded its high estimate. According to The Art Newspaper, competitive bidding pushed the price to nearly C$300,000, while Heffel records the final sale price at C$349,250 including fees. Global News, citing The Canadian Press, reported the hammer price as C$290,000, above the original C$100,000 to C$200,000 estimate. (Art Newspaper)

For Treibitz, the discovery was particularly meaningful. “This is the most significant thing I’ve ever found,” he told the Canadian Press. “The fact that it was found and that it is back to its home place is very important.”

The unexpected journey of Masset, Q.C.I. — from a $50 Hamptons barn-sale purchase to a six-figure auction result — made it one of the notable art discoveries of 2024. Artnet News included the painting among its roundup of thrift-store and bargain discoveries that turned into significant auction results.

FAQs

Who bought Emily Carr’s painting for $50?

New York art dealer Allen Treibitz bought it at a Hamptons barn sale.

How much did the Emily Carr painting sell for?

Masset, Q.C.I. sold for C$290,000, while the total including buyer fees was C$349,250.