After around seven decades away from public view, Leonora Carrington's 1953 painting Fil d'Or is set to appear at Heritage Auctions in New York on November 10. The work carries an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.
French for "gold thread," the title evokes the fine wire used to decorate textiles. Carrington's dreamlike image features a cosmic bird formed from intersecting threads, seemingly radiating from a golden galaxy at its heart.
The artist used grattage, a technique associated with her former partner Max Ernst. By scraping into layers of wet paint, the method reveals unexpected textures and shapes, lending the composition a sense of movement and discovery.
Created in Mexico, Fil d'Or reflects Carrington's imaginative approach to symbolism and the shifting meanings of words. Its return to the market offers audiences a renewed opportunity to encounter a lesser-seen work by a major Surrealist artist. The sale also highlights how rediscovered artworks can broaden understanding of art history and inspire fresh interpretations for future generations.
