In 1972, Andy Warhol taped a bunch of $10 bills to a straw hat and gave it as a present to friend and confidante Dr. Robert Giller on the occasion of his 30th birthday (see below). It was, according to ArtNet News “a unique objet d’art that personified the devil-may-care attitude of the moment.” Uh, OK.
Unknown by most Warhol scholars and never displayed to the public before this year, the hat, incredibly, has resurfaced. It will hit the auction block at Nye and Company Auctioneers/Appraisers of Bloomfield, New Jersey on November 11, 2015. It is being consigned by Giller’s widow and is estimated between $800,000–$1,200,000.
I don’t know, I don’t know, this feels slightly… over-valued? Like maaaaaaybe Warhol mania is getting a bit out of hand?
Anyway.
Other unusual Warhol items to hit the auction block of late include the artist’s signed lease for his first studio, and a Coco Chanel portrait of suspect authenticity that brought in $247,000 at Mississippi auction house Stevens in September.
The hat will be available for bidding both online and in person beginning at 1:11 pm on November 11, 2015.
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