25 January 2011 Last updated at 11:35 GMT

Andy Warhol self-portrait to be auctioned

The Andy Warhol portrait has not been shown in public for more than 30 years

A rare Andy Warhol self-portrait will go up for auction next month, having been in private hands since 1974.

The red-and-white portrait, which measures 6ft by 6ft (1.8m by 1.8m), has an estimate of £3m to £5m.

“This is one of the missing pieces of the Holy Grail,” said Amy Cappellazzo, co-head of contemporary and post-war art at Christie’s.

The auction on 16 and 17 February at Christie’s in London will also feature art by Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons.

Warhol was at the height of his fame when he first exhibited his self-portrait at the Expo 67 world fair in Montreal, Canada.

The piece, which was put up for sale by the estate of the painting’s owner after their death, will be exhibited in public for the first time at Christie’s in New York from 22 to 26 January 2011.

Two of his other portraits are also on offer at the sale – one of a woman, entitled Ladies and Gentleman, and a portrait of rock star Mick Jagger.

Works by Gerhard Richter, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Anthony Gormley and Jake and Dinos Chapman will also feature at the auction.

Koons’s Winter Bears sculpture is estimated to fetch between £2.5m and £3.5m.

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• Mystery Warhol self-portrait to be auctioned in London (arts.nationalpost.com)
• Rare Warhol self portrait to go under hammer (reuters.com)