A wonderful auction event with a diverse selection of approximately 150 framed artworks, sculptures, decorative arts (including Inuit and West Coast items), along with select furnishings, household, tableware, a deluxe Yamaha digital player piano, lighting and more. Net proceeds to be generously donated by Arch & Helen Brown to the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation. This is a public auction, invite your friends, have fun and support RVH!
Arch & Helen Brown are avid collectors of local artisans, accumulating a large amount of local art from various vendors at Kempenfest, at other local art venues and during their travels have gained a world wide selection of art and sculpture. Arch is well known for his Canadian Tire days, in his 33 years in business he turned a money-losing store into one of the busiest, most-profitable stores in the chain. The visual arts building at Georgian College is named after Arch & Helen Brown.
“Over the years we have supported many community initiatives and the arts is the one we value most because it is often neglected.” Arch & Helen Brown
Artworks: Photographs include Nighttime Skyline of Barrie by Gail Moore, various Steingard images of Barrie, Oro Barn Through Window by Hal Johnstone, Canadian Tire – Bayfield Street, and more. Original Artworks including watercolours and oils including Winter Scene by Eve Benlow, Lount’s Castle by Kathy Van Drie (BAC), Winter Scene by K. French, Orcas by Bruce Muir, Vancouver Island by Lorraine Hovey, Horse Study by A.F. Murchie (c. 1923, Uncle to Arch Brown & Murchie Tea), Green Trees batik by Joan LeBoeuf, several watercolours by Gordon Peters including Barrie Rooftops, Barrie Train Station by Boudreau, Horseshoe Valley Chalet by Beatrice Hogan, Bahamas artist H. Hamilton, line drawing of Dunlop & Toronto Street by N.W. Taylor, and more. Prints include a complete set of woodblock prints in wooden case by Graham Scholes, Budd Watson, Marc Bale, Don Li-Leger, P. Watson, E. Somers, J.D. Kelly, and others.
Sculpture & Decorative Arts: Wood carvings including signed Quebec large Ox Plowing and Stump Removal, 2 carved pine figural table lamps, railway scene burned wood medallion, metal decorative wall art, carved wooden island wood figural sculptures, international tribal art, coral/shells, decoratives and more.
Inuit/West Coast: The collection includes several large carved soapstones, carved wooden circular mask, wonderful selection of various small soapstones, totem poles, painted and printed artworks, needlework panels, weaving and more.
Primitives: Early carved Canadiana items including pig trough, tables made from tire/glass/metal, vintage McCaskey adding machine, Edison cylinder tabletop gramophone, and more.
Collectibles: Books, pottery, craft items and more.
Featured Item: Select furnishings featuring a beautiful Yamaha player piano with discs and bench seat.
Furnishings: Antique drop leaf table, oak bedside tables, single beds, patio furniture including contents of gazebo, Pulsar TV, chess set, upholstered sofas and chairs, floor lamps, carpets, kitchen table sets, fireplace tools, exercise equipment, black acrylic tables, and more.
Tableware: A selection of various glass, crystal, china, pewter goblets, vases and more.
100% of the net proceeds from this auction event will be donated to the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation. A Touch of Class Auctions is truly honoured to be entrusted with such a devoted and ample collection as Arch & Helen Brown’s. This opportunity has reminded us how special, and important community spirit is, and on behalf of the Brown’s and the Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation we thank you for your generous support.
A.J. “Arch” Brown has been awarded: Lescarbot Award (1991). The award is named in honour of Mac Lescarbot, Canada’s first cultural volunteer and recognizes individual commitment to the arts and the community, The Order of Canada (1995), The Order of Ontario (2004), Golden Jubilee (2002), Established the Arch Brown Entrepreneur Award of Excellence, winner of Business Ambassador Award, along with endless commendable recognized efforts of Arch and Helen Brown.
