Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) Fil d'Or, 1953 Grattage and oil on gessoed canvas 13 x 8-1/2 inches (33.0 x 21.6 cm) Inscribed on the reverse (by another hand): LEONORA CARRINGTON 12/26/53 PROVENANCE: Galeria de Arte Mexicano, Mexico City, Mexico; Private collection, Long Beach, California, acquired from the above, 1953; By descent to the present owner, Little Rock, Arkansas. NOTE: We wish to thank Dr. Salomon Grimberg for his kind assistance in the cataloguing of this work. "You may not believe in magic but something very strange is happening at this very moment." —Leonora Carrington, The Hearing Trumpet In making art, Leonora Carrington lived seamlessly in a world whose boundaries she redefined. Ultimately, she was likely the only person who had the clearest, if not thorough understanding of her unique language. Traditionally, fil d'or (French for "gold thread") refers to the precious metal wire used to embroider and ornament luxury textiles like military uniforms or religious vestments. Metaphorically, it signifies "a common thread." By choosing this title, Leonora Carrington shifts focus away from the obvious. Instead, she redirects the viewer's awareness to consider coexisting, alternative meanings—in this case her meaning—by experimenting with how we emotionally respond to different thoughts. Ultimately, Fil d'Or demonstrates that words hold multiple meanings, explores how others perceive them, and questions whether they are truly understood at all. To suggest that images rise from hidden depths, Carrington created Fil d'Or using grattage. In this Surrealist technique, layers of paint are applied to the canvas, allowed to dry, and then scraped away to reveal unexpected underlying patterns. Emerging from a central intersection of two golden lines, she crafted an ambiguous rhombus-shaped long-tailed personage staring directly at the viewer. Composed of two joined triangles with equal sides and mirrored angles, this form represents balance, inner focus, and the mystery of the unknown. Salomon Grimberg Dallas, October 2026 HID12401132022 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Galeria de Arte Mexicano, Mexico City, Mexico; Private collection, Long Beach, California, acquired from the above, 1953; By descent to the present owner, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Unlined canvas. Some scattered instances of mild frame abrasion. Some scattered surface scratches throughout (longest scratch is horizontal 7.5" scratch along lower half of composition). Scattered pindot areas of pigment loss throughout. Under raking light, some diagonal craquelure is evident in upper left corner.
Under UV examination, no apparent inpainting.
Framed Dimensions 22 X 17.75 Inches