Hudson’s Bay can auction off 4,400 art pieces and artifacts, judge rules
Global News
Though the company has yet to reveal exactly what will be up for grabs, a lawyer for the firm says the items are from Hudson's Bay's 'retail era,' rather than its fur trading days.
Canadians hoping to get their hands on treasures from Hudson’s Bay won’t have to wait much longer for the chance.
An Ontario court approved a November auction of 4,400 items belonging to the fallen retailer on Thursday.
The trove Judge Peter Osborne is allowing to be sold includes more than 1,700 pieces of art and about 2,700 artifacts. Though the company has yet to reveal exactly what will be up for grabs, a lawyer for the firm says the items are from Hudson’s Bay’s “retail era,” rather than its fur trading days.
A source familiar with the collection, who was not authorized to speak publicly, has told The Canadian Press the collection includes paintings, paper documents and even collectible Barbie dolls.
A full list of items and photographs of each lot will be made available ahead of the auctions on Heffel Gallery Ltd.’s website, Bay lawyers said. Heffel will split the sale between a series of online auctions beginning Nov. 12 and an in-person one to be held in Toronto around Nov. 19.
The auctions could potentially transfer art and memorabilia belonging to the nation’s oldest company to a wide range of public institutions along with just about anyone with an affinity for art, history or Hudson’s Bay.
Reflect Advisors, a financial adviser to the Bay, said it’s already seen interest from Indigenous groups, government institutions, museums, universities and high-net-worth individuals.
One of them could be the National Gallery of Canada. Josée-Britanie Mallet, a spokesperson for the Crown corporation, said Thursday that the gallery was “keeping a close eye” on the auctions because it is “potentially interested in acquiring from the collection.”
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