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Warhol Coke Piece Sells for a Fizzy $33M

Work sells beyond Sotheby's estimate, capping $222M sale

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 11, 2010 1:40 AM CST

(Newser) – Recession? What recession? It's apparently not happening in the world of art auctions, where Andy Warhol's Large Coca-Cola went for a fizzy $33 million to cap a $222 million pop art sale at Sotheby's in New York. The auction also included top-selling works by Mark Rothko, Roy Lichtenstein, and Willem de Kooning. "Two things were going on: the iconic classical market and the young market," said Tobias Meyer, head of contemporary art at Sotheby's. "Both benefited from the great depth of bidding in our sale, and resulted in a very strong total."

The Warhol buyer was not revealed, but the work was sold by collector Elizabeth Rae who purchased it with her late husband in 1983 for $143,000. The record for a piece by the artist was set in 2007 when his Green Car Crash went for $71.7 million, reports the Independent. Warhol's The Last Supper sold at the Sotheby's auction for $6.8 million and his Shadows went for $4.2 million.

The man. (AP Photo/Sotheby's, Andy Warhol)

Warhol's 'Large Coca-Cola' fetched a cool $33 million. (Getty)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

YouLikeThis

Nov 11, 2010 8:04 AM CST

I enjoy Warhol. In my opinion it doesn't compare to a Monet largely because no Warhol has ever made me feel emotion beyond 'that's neat'. If you've ever had the pleasure of seeing a Monet up close then you'll understand. Seems to me Warhol was playing around and kept saying to himself....'I wonder if I can get away with this'.... I know, everyone's a critic.

finkster

Nov 11, 2010 3:08 AM CST

It's art so no one can really put a price to it but the way these rich people spend their money is absurd.

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Warhol Coke Piece Sells for a Fizzy $33M

Work sells beyond Sotheby's estimate, capping $222M sale

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

art • Andy Warhol • Christie's • Coca Cola • Sothby's

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