Leonora Carrington masterpiece authenticated after 70 years in private collection

Fil d'Or, a significant work by surrealist artist Leonora Carrington, has emerged from seven decades of private ownership to enter the auction market. The painting was acquired directly from a Mexico City gallery in 1953, the year it was created, and has remained with the purchasing family throughout its extended stewardship.

The work demonstrates Carrington's mastery of grattage, a surrealist technique involving the scraping of paint across canvas to create textured, often dreamlike imagery. This method became a hallmark of Carrington's artistic practice and appears prominently in Fil d'Or, offering viewers insight into the British-Mexican artist's imaginative vision and technical innovation.

Authentication of the painting adds considerable weight to its historical and artistic significance. Carrington, who spent much of her career based in Mexico, created some of her most celebrated works during the mid-twentieth century. The newly verified provenance of Fil d'Or—documented by its continuous ownership since the work's creation—enhances its standing within the artist's canon.

The authenticated painting will be offered for sale on November 10, marking its formal entry into the contemporary art market after more than seven decades of private collection. The auction represents a rare opportunity to acquire a verified example of Carrington's surrealist output from a pivotal period in her career.