A rare, signed proof copy of the lithograph, An Image of Celia, in the original frame, hand painted by David Hockney sold for £66,000 at Bonhams on April 20.
Dating from the mid-1980s, the Picasso-like image of Hockney's close friend, and muse, the textile designer Celia Birtwell, had an estimate of £60,000-80,000.
A rare earthenware ceramic cat made by Hockney in 1955 sold for £33,600 against a pre-sale estimate of £5,000-7,000 at the same sale.
![]() See Celia? She broke many hearts at Bonhams |
Although Hockney experimented with ceramics in his youth, the works rarely appear at auction and the subject matter - a startled looking cat - is in interesting contrast to the artist's famous love of dogs.
Hockney investors also fought over an early work, the lithograph Fires of Furious Desire - The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, from 1963, which sold for £14,260.
Moving Focus - Walking Past Two Chairs from the mid-1980s, which had been estimated at £20,000-30,000, made £50,400.
In total the sale realised £634,890, with 92% of lots sold.
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