COULD YOUR ARTWORK BE BY LAWREN HARRIS?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic works by Lawren Harris may be rare, every work deserves to be evaluated on its own merits rather than dismissed simply because it is unfamiliar or undocumented.

If you believe your painting, drawing, or other work on paper may be by Lawren Harris, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step. His documented production includes major oil paintings as well as numerous oil sketches on panel and paperboard and an important body of drawings.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Lawren Harris since 2002. We issue Certificates of Authenticity (COAs), Authentication Reports, appraisals, valuations, provenance reports, and provide buying, selling, brokerage, and investment advisory services for collectors, attorneys, insurers, financial institutions, estates, museums, and private clients worldwide.

Getting started is straightforward. Simply send us photographs of the work together with its dimensions and any information you have regarding its history or ownership. After reviewing the material, we will recommend the most appropriate course of action.

AUTHENTICATION

Is this a Lawren Harris?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a work appears consistent with Harris’s work or whether it clearly does not. His career encompasses early urban subjects, landscape sketches and finished paintings, and increasingly simplified and abstract compositions, so period, support, materials, and technique must also be considered.

What services do you provide?

We provide authentication, certification, Certificates of Authenticity (COAs), Authentication Reports, appraisals and valuations, provenance research, private sales and brokerage, investment advice, and analytical art market research.

Is it possible to discover a previously unknown Lawren Harris today?

Yes. Harris produced paintings, oil sketches, and drawings over a long career, and previously undocumented works can remain in private collections, estates, and family holdings. Museum collections document numerous small oil studies on paperboard and related supports in addition to larger paintings.

Do I need to get my Lawren Harris authenticated?

Yes. Authentication is essential if you wish to sell your work for its full market value. It is also important for insurance, estate planning, charitable donations, financing, and many legal purposes.

Is it complicated to get a Lawren Harris authenticated?

Not for you. Simply send us photographs of the front and reverse, close-up photographs of the paint surface or paper, signature, date, inscriptions, labels, stamps, edges, frame, and other important details, together with the dimensions and anything you know about the work’s history. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate a Lawren Harris?

It depends on how much is already known about the work when we begin the investigation. In the simplest cases, authenticity can be confirmed within a couple of weeks. More complex cases may require several months.

How much does it cost to authenticate a Lawren Harris?

From the low hundreds to the high thousands. It depends on how much is already known and documented, where relevant archives are located, and whether travel or scientific testing is required.

Can a signature alone prove that a Lawren Harris painting is authentic?

No. A signature or inscription is only one element of evidence and cannot establish authenticity by itself. It must be evaluated together with the painting’s materials, support, technique, date, provenance, and physical characteristics.

Can an unsigned Lawren Harris painting still be authentic?

Yes. The absence of a signature does not by itself establish that a painting is inauthentic. Attribution should be based on the complete work, including its materials, support, technique, period, provenance, and other physical evidence.

What documents help authenticate a Lawren Harris painting?

Any document that mentions, describes, illustrates, or refers to the work may assist the authentication. Photographs, invoices, correspondence, exhibition records, restoration or conservation reports, insurance documents, auction records, collection inventories, and family papers can all contribute valuable evidence.

Can a Lawren Harris painting be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study composition, paint application, surface, support, signature, inscriptions, labels, and other important characteristics remotely. When additional evidence is required, we may recommend an in-person examination. We examine works worldwide.

Is it always necessary to perform scientific analyses of a Lawren Harris?

No. Many works can be authenticated through research, provenance investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination. Scientific testing is generally reserved for more difficult cases when questions remain concerning pigments, binders, canvas, paperboard, paper, grounds, or the age and composition of other materials.

What if my Lawren Harris has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance is common. When provenance is incomplete, authentication relies more heavily on research, technical examination, photography, comparison with documented works, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Lawren Harris works?

Yes. Upon completion of the authentication, we issue a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) together with a detailed and fully referenced Authentication Report.

APPRAISALS & VALUATIONS

How much is my Lawren Harris painting worth?

We will appraise your work and determine its value. Period, subject, medium, dimensions, condition, provenance, rarity, quality, and current market demand can all materially affect the value of a Harris painting. Large finished paintings and smaller oil sketches on panel or paperboard occupy different market categories.

SELLING

Can you sell my Lawren Harris for me?

Yes. We specialize in private sales but use every appropriate selling method to obtain the highest possible net price. We manage the process professionally, confidentially, and on your behalf.

Do I need an appraisal before selling my Lawren Harris?

Yes. Your work should be priced correctly for the country, market, and method of sale. An independent appraisal helps prevent both underpricing and overpricing.

Do I need authentication before selling my Lawren Harris?

Yes. Without authentication, your work may sell for only a fraction of its potential market value.

Can you help me maximize the selling price of my Lawren Harris?

Yes. Authentication, provenance, valuation, timing, presentation, and the chosen sales method can all influence the final result. We also provide collection management advice designed to maximize value.

Should I restore my Lawren Harris before selling it?

Usually not. Buyers often have their own preferences regarding conservation and restoration, and original paint surfaces, supports, labels, and other physical evidence should be treated carefully. We generally recommend selling the work in its present condition unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise.

How long does it take to sell a Lawren Harris?

Higher-value works generally require more time to sell because there are fewer qualified buyers. Correct pricing, strong documentation, and the appropriate sales method all contribute to a successful sale.

BUYING & ADVISORY

Should I buy a Lawren Harris?

If you enjoy Harris’s work, certainly. If your primary objective is investment, we can evaluate the proposed acquisition and alternative opportunities.

Can you review a Lawren Harris before I buy it?

Yes. We provide independent pre-purchase research and analysis for collectors and investors. We also prepare predictive art market forecasts and Buy-Hold-Sell recommendations.

What should I check before buying a Lawren Harris?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For Harris, the proposed date, subject, support, dimensions, provenance, inscriptions, exhibition history, and relationship to documented paintings or oil sketches from the same period can also be particularly important.

How can I avoid buying a fake Lawren Harris?

Call us before you buy. An independent review before completing the purchase is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of acquiring a forged or misattributed work.

Can you advise me on building a collection?

Yes. We advise collectors on the financial aspects of acquisition, ownership, collection management, and eventual sale.

REQUEST A LAWREN HARRIS AUTHENTICATION OR APPRAISAL

Whether you require authentication, a Certificate of Authenticity, an appraisal, valuation, provenance research, buying advice, selling assistance, brokerage, or investment guidance regarding a work attributed to Lawren Harris, our specialists are available to assist.

Complete the contact form below or call us at +1 (212) 658-0466 to discuss your work with one of our experts.