Bidding on Maud Lewis painting passes $125,000

In its first 48 hours, the auction for a painting discovered in a New Hamburg thrift shop has topped the $125,000 mark.

The painting, by Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis, was found last month at the Mennonite Central Committee Thrift Centre. Volunteers discovered it while sorting through donations.

It is entitled “Portrait of Eddie Barnes and Ed Murphy, Lobster Fisherman, Bay View, N.S.”

MCC has put the painting up for auction, with all proceeds going to the organization’s work in relief, development and peacebuilding.

As of Sunday morning, the top bid was listed as $125,208. The painting is said to have a market value of $16,000, and the previous record sale price for a Lewis creation was $22,000.

Bidding continues until May 19. During the bidding period, the painting can be viewed at Kitchener’s Homer Watson House and Gallery.

With files from The Canadian Press

• 

  The work, entitled "Portrait of Eddie Barnes and Ed Murphy, Lobster Fishermen, Bay View, N.S." is painted on beaverboard, a pulp board Lewis used for many of her paintings.