Arts News

Warhol Coke bottle goes for 35 million dollars

Nov 10, 2010, 21:33 GMT

New York - A painting of a Coca-Cola bottle by pop art icon Andy Warhol drew 35 million dollars at auction.

The work, Coca-Cola (4) Lage Coca-Cola, sold at auction at Sotheby's in New York Tuesday evening. Experts had estimated its value at 20 million to 25 million dollars.

The contemporary art auction also featured works by Mark Rothko, Roy Lichtenstein and Gerhard Richter. An untitled work by Rothko sold for 22.5 million dollars, Lichtenstein's Ice Cream Soda earned 14 million dollars, and Richter's Matrosen (Sailors) brought in 13.2 million dollars.

A new record was set for a work by Julie Mehretu. The Seven Acts of Mercy, a 2004 work, sold for 2.3 million dollars, beating an earlier record for the artist of 1 million dollars that was also set at Sotheby's.

The auction earned 222.4 million dollars, better than expectations of 214 million.