Norval Morrisseau works highlight Hudson's Bay final auction

Hudson's Bay concluded its art collection sale with an online auction by Heffel Fine Art Auction House featuring works by Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau. The sale included six paintings related to Morrisseau's legacy: three by the artist and three from his studio. The top bid among Morrisseau-related pieces was a vibrant acrylic on canvas from his studio, sold for $27,500 CAD. The highest-value lot overall was a portrait of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, attributed to Michael Dahl's studio, fetching $50,000 CAD. Other items included historical Hudson's Bay signs, a basketball and jersey autographed by former Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam, and various memorabilia. The collection dispersal began last year after Hudson's Bay ceased operations, placing about 4,400 works and artifacts on the market. Previous sales—one live auction, five online, and a private sale of a Prince Rupert painting—have generated approximately $9.5 million CAD. The company awaits full payment from the final two online stages. The presence of Morrisseau works recalls a major Canadian art forgery scandal: after his death in 2007, about 6,000 fraudulent works were identified, the largest art fraud case in history, making provenance crucial for value.