New York, US: An Andy Warhol silkscreen of dollar bills sold Wednesday at Sotheby’s in New York for US$43.8 million ($60.7 million) after a  dramatic bidding war.

“200 One Dollar Bills,” a gray and black work showing 200 life-sized images of dollar bills, was estimated to sell for eight to US$12 million.
   
And a Warhol self-portrait estimated at one to US$1.5 million sold for US$6.1 million, a fairy tale ending for a work that was hidden away in a cupboard for 42 years by its owner, Cathy Naso – a one-time secretary at Warhol’s famous Factory.
   
“It just amazes me...and it made me famous for 15 minutes,” she said in a statement afterwards.
   
The Warhols topped a successful night for Sotheby’s, which pulled in US$134.4 million and sold 96 percent – all but two – of the 54 lots. Presale estimates were for sales of US$97.7 million.
   
Sotheby’s contemporary art director, Tobias Meyer, said the art market was rebounding.
   
“Bidding was very deep tonight. There is a great desire for great art.

Consumer behavior has started to accelerate after May 2009.”

On Tuesday, rival Christie’s contemporary and post-war sales were more mixed.
   
The evening’s big winner was Peter Doig’s Reflection (What Does Your Soul Look Like), from 1996, which sold for US$10.2 million, double the pre-sale estimate.
   
Overall, the sale was respectable, with 85 percent of works being sold and total proceeds of US$74.1 million falling within pre-sale estimates.
   
But there were high-profile flops, including Jean-Michel Basquiat’s unsold “Brother Sausage,” valued at US$9 million - US$12 million.