Hirst's Shark Sells for $17m at Auction
By Associated Press | September 15, 2008
LONDON — Sotheby's auction house has sold a pickled shark by British art provocateur Damien Hirst for 9.6 million pounds (US$17 million).
Today's sale kicked off a two-day auction of the artist's work that is expected to generate more than 65 million pounds (US$116 million). Sotheby's said it expects the sale to set a new record for an auction of works by just one artist.
Mr. Hirst is selling more than 200 new works at auction rather than through a gallery. He has said it is a more democratic way to sell art.
An embalmed calf with hooves and horns of 18-karat gold titled "The Golden Calf" sold for 10.3 million pounds (US$18.5 million).
The sale will continue tomorrow.
