It is this image made such an impression on Elberna Damon (Damon Albarn), leader of the group Blur, he ordered the artist to the album cover Think Tank. More importantly, this is a rare outdoor work that Banksy has allowed to be auctioned. Four years ago, Banksy street forbidden to sell their works, which, he said, never intended for this purpose.

After the triumph at Christie's did not have surprised more than four hundred pounds, earned 17 works by the artist at auction Bonhams. Top lot of the auction was the work of "Love in the air" - the image of the young vandals throwing a bouquet of flowers, gone for the amount exceeded the estimate of 87,650 pounds.

These successful sales followed a period that began at the end of 2008, when the market began to look like Banksy unconvincing, especially given the previous three years, when demand for the work of a mysterious stranger was a resounding (helped by reports that among the admirers of the artist listed as such famous personalities as Damien Hirst (Damien Hirst) Christina Aguilera (Christina Aguilera) and Angelina Jolie (Angelina Jolie)).

first tentative steps Banksy has made the market in 2005, when the bidding came just five of his works, of which were sold to three. In 2006, Banksy's work in the market was already 10, and a year later - 124. In 2006, the highest price for the work of Banksy was 62 400 pounds in 2007 - 323,000 pounds in 2008 - $ 1.9 million (950,300 pounds), and a number of papers on the Banksy market has grown to 340.

This interesting background unnoticed incredible prices for Banksy's lottery schedule. "Explosive Love," featuring the work of a girl hugging a warhead (with a circulation of 150 units) in 2005 was sold at Bonhams auction for 200 pounds. In 2008, another work of the same series has brought 14,000 pounds. The work of "Pulp Fiction", where two gangster grip in the hands of bananas instead of guns, released in 2004, initially worth 150 pounds. But by early 2008 one of the copies of this work was sold for 14,400 pounds.

After Lehmann Brothers bankruptcy in 2008, which is considered the starting point of the global financial crisis, the market-Contemporary Art has fallen into hibernation, and the work of Banksy is no exception - in 2008 at the auction houses in the hands of its mass remained unsold works. The case did not help hearing the loud, even on the sale of fake Banksy works on eBay.

In 2009, taught by bitter experience, the auction houses have ceased to offer customers a number of studies of the national favorite, their number dropped by 70 percent , and those that were put up for auction, such as a set of six prints featuring Kate Moss, did not find buyers. As a result, estimeyty Banksy came down. While in 2010-2011 the ratio of sold and unsold works has improved, prices have not reached the previous level. Thus, the sculpture of David, ironic reinterpretation of the famous works of Michelangelo, in 2007, earned 204,400 pounds, and last October, brought only 97,250 pounds.

Can we now talk about the revival of the market Banksy? It seems - yes, and this market is becoming much more extensive than before. Last week, for work other than his fellow British and Americans fought buyers from Italy, France, Canada and Taiwan. A number of prints later reached a record level of prices, so that "Idiots" (2007), in which Banksy mocks their customers, was sold for 8125 pounds.

However, investors with the greatest interest the developments around the early works of the British. "Explosive Love", which has previously had a bad period (often due to aggressive estimeytov that reached up to 7000 pounds, the work remained unsold), unexpectedly showed a good result. Last week, the estimate was within reason - 4000 pounds, and the price has reached 10,250 pounds. Also printmaking, and "Pulp Fiction": it was sold for 10,600 pounds, almost at an early record price levels.

However, the portrait of Kate Moss has yet to find a buyer: Banksy print for explanation of the work of Warhol, sold in 2008 for an amount that exceed 60,000 pounds, last week, was left without a buyer Estimé to 30,000.

Prepared by Mary Estrova AI