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Record price for Koons' sculpture Record price for Koons' sculpture
(11 minutes later)
A Jeff Koons' sculpture resembling a balloon model has sold for a record £12.9m at Christie's in London.A Jeff Koons' sculpture resembling a balloon model has sold for a record £12.9m at Christie's in London.
Balloon Flower (Magenta), a 9ft (2.75 metre) piece in high chromium stainless steel, looks like a modelling balloon twisted into the shape of a flower.Balloon Flower (Magenta), a 9ft (2.75 metre) piece in high chromium stainless steel, looks like a modelling balloon twisted into the shape of a flower.
It fetched the highest price at auction for any of the US artist's work.It fetched the highest price at auction for any of the US artist's work.
The sculpture was sold as part of a post-war and contemporary art sale, that included work by Francis Bacon, Gilbert and George and Lucian Freud.The sculpture was sold as part of a post-war and contemporary art sale, that included work by Francis Bacon, Gilbert and George and Lucian Freud.
A piece of work by UK-based duo Gilbert and George, called To her Majesty, also reached a record price of £1.9m.A piece of work by UK-based duo Gilbert and George, called To her Majesty, also reached a record price of £1.9m.
Bacon's previously unseen Three Studies for a Self Portrait - owned by the same person since it was painted in the mid-1970s - sold for £17.3m.Bacon's previously unseen Three Studies for a Self Portrait - owned by the same person since it was painted in the mid-1970s - sold for £17.3m.
Naked Portrait, by Freud, which was described by Christie's as one of his most important pieces to be offered at auction, fetched £11.8m.Naked Portrait, by Freud, which was described by Christie's as one of his most important pieces to be offered at auction, fetched £11.8m.
This is the second highest price for any of Freud's paintings and comes a month after his life-sized portrayal of a sleeping, naked woman set a new world record price for a work by a living artist.This is the second highest price for any of Freud's paintings and comes a month after his life-sized portrayal of a sleeping, naked woman set a new world record price for a work by a living artist.
The 1995 portrait, titled Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, sold for $33.6m (£17.2m) at Christie's in New York.The 1995 portrait, titled Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, sold for $33.6m (£17.2m) at Christie's in New York.
Last week, a Claude Monet painting - Le Bassin Aux Nympheas - fetched a record £40.9m at an auction also held at Christie's in London.Last week, a Claude Monet painting - Le Bassin Aux Nympheas - fetched a record £40.9m at an auction also held at Christie's in London.
All the auction prices included the buyer's premium.