Warhol's '200 One Dollar Bills' go for $43.8 mln

An Andy Warhol silkscreen of dollar bills was sold at Sotheby's in New York for 43.8 million dollars after a dramatic bidding war.

"200 One Dollar Bills," a gray and black work showing 200 life-sized images of dollar bills, was estimated to sell for eight to 12 million dollars.

And a Warhol self-portrait estimated at one to 1.5 million dollars sold for 6.1 million dollars, a fairy tale ending for a work that was hidden away in a cupboard for 42 years by its owner, Cathy Naso -- a one-time secretary at Warhol's famous Factory.

"It just amazes me... and it made me famous for 15 minutes," she said in a statement afterwards.

The Warhols topped a successful night for Sotheby's, which pulled in 134.4 million dollars and sold 96 percent -- all but two -- of the 54 lots. Presale estimates were for sales of 97.7 million dollars.

Sotheby's contemporary art director, Tobias Meyer, said the art market was rebounding.

"Bidding was very deep tonight. There is a great desire for great art. Consumer behavior has started to accelerate after May 2009."

On Tuesday, rival Christie's contemporary and post-war sales were more mixed.

The evening?s big winner was Peter Doig?s Reflection (What Does Your Soul Look Like), from 1996, which sold for 10.2 million dollars, double the pre-sale estimate.

Overall, the sale was respectable, with 85 percent of works being sold and total proceeds of 74.1 million dollars falling within pre-sale estimates.

But there were high-profile flops, including Jean-Michel Basquiat's unsold "Brother Sausage," valued at nine-12 million dollars.