STORY: :: November 20, 2024
:: New York
:: A banana duct-taped to the wall sells
for more than $6 million including fees
:: It’s a conceptual piece titled “Comedian”
by artist Maurizio Cattelan
:: Oliver Barker, Auctioneer
“And I’m selling it here. The world’s most expensive banana at 5,200,000. It’s back with Jen in here 5 million two. Here it is. 5 million, two, would you say three online? At 5, 200,000. Jen Hua from Sotheby’s China office at 5,200,000. Thank you Jen. At 5,200,000 dollars. I think it’s yours at 5 million two, and against you online. Fair warning now to all of our global bidders at 5,200,000. Here it goes, at the end of the global tour, it’s slipping through the auction room at 5 million two. And I’m going to sell it here. Fair warning at 5,200,000 dollars Jen, the Cattelan is yours. Congratulations. Thank you very much indeed. Paddle number 17. Thank you very much indeed. Congratulations.”
Originally estimated to sell for up to $1.5 million, the piece attracted bids from seven contenders before finally being hammered down for $5.2 million. With fees included, the final total reached $6.2 million.
According to the auction house, the winning bid was placed on behalf of Justin Sun, a Chinese collector and founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON.
The piece concluded a tour of nine cities worldwide, drawing over 12,000 visitors in the two weeks leading up to the auction, Sotheby’s reported.
