Andy Warhol's iconic Marilyn print has dominated the top sale at Christie's July 16 auction of First Impression Prints and Multiples in New York.
 The Marilyn print is perhaps Warhol's most iconic and popular piece |
The top lot of the sale was an example of the 1967 depiction of Marilyn Monroe numbered 128 in an edition of 250.
Published by Factory Additions, despite having several creases, it sold for $87,500 - a 45.8% increase on its pre-sale estimate of $60,000.
This was followed by a proof from the same edition, which was signed and annotated "Happy Birthday". It sold for $50,000, achieving a 42.8% increase on the $35,000 high estimate.
Warhol's Flowers brought the third highest bids of the auction. A 1970 screen-print in colours signed in ball-point pen, it is numbered 30 in an edition of 250. It made a 16.6% increase on its $30,000 high estimate to sell for $35,000.
The sale is further testament to Warhol's outstanding popularity in the current market. He is currently the world's top-selling artist, with a total of $380m sold in 2012.
 Stella's prints of the 1970s had a huge impace on printmaking as an artform |
Agua Caliente from Frank Stella saw excellent results, bringing $24,375 and a 387.5% increase on its $3,000-5,000 valuation.
A typically bold and linear piece, the screen-print in colours was produced in 1972 and is number 16 in an edition of 75. Stella's prints from this period are particularly sought-after, especially those using offset lithography, a technique that he invented.
The strong results seen in the sale continue Christie's recent run of success. The auction house has posted record first-half sales in 2013, boosted by the record-breaking post-war and contemporary art sale in May.
Recent and related articles
· Christie's world record auction boosts first-half sales by 9% | 16 July 2013
· Banksy's Abe Lincoln stencil tops Neal Auction Company at $65,000 | 15 July 2013
· X-rated Japanese prints to go on display at Sotheby's | 15 July 2013
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Images: Christie's
