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Gems (F. & S. II.86) - Unsigned Print by Andy Warhol 1978 - MyArtBroker

Gems (F. & S. II.86)
Unsigned Print

Andy Warhol

Price data unavailable

AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.

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Medium: Screenprint

Edition size: 20

Year: 1978

Size: H 76cm x W 102cm

Signed: No

Format: Unsigned Print

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The value of Andy Warhol’s Gems (F. & S. II.86) (unsigned) from 1978 is estimated to be worth between £25,000 and £35,000. This screenprint has shown consistent value growth since its first sale in April 2008. This is a rare artwork, with an auction history of two total sales. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 20.

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Auction Results

Auction DateAuction HouseLocation
Hammer Price
Return to Seller
Buyer Paid
October 2010Bonhams San Francisco United States
April 2008Christie's New York United States

Meaning & Analysis

Gems (F. & S. II.86) is part of the Gems series, produced in 1978 towards the end of Warhol’s career. Composed of four screen prints depicting various precious gemstones, this series marks a departure from his renowned depictions of celebrity culture. Whereas Warhol was known for his prints of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, in this series, Warhol turns to inanimate objects, gems, that embody the beauty and glamour that are synonymous with the celebrity icons he was known for portraying. Warhol was fascinated with wealth, fame and celebrity culture and the gems in this series are intimately bound up with these interests.

This print of a ruby gem is one of the most symbolic in the series. Gems (F. & S. II.86) is significant because it resonates with Warhol’s love for actress Elizabeth Taylor who was known for her adoration of rubies. Warhol too loved these precious stones. He was a keen jewellery collector, and his impressive jewellery collection was discovered in his former home after his death in 1987.

  • Andy Warhol was a leading figure of the Pop Art movement and is often considered the father of Pop Art. Born in 1928, Warhol allowed cultural references of the 20th century to drive his work. From the depiction of glamorous public figures, such as Marilyn Monroe, to the everyday Campbell’s Soup Can, the artist challenged what was considered art by blurring the boundaries between high art and mass consumerism. Warhol's preferred screen printing technique further reiterated his obsession with mass culture, enabling art to be seen as somewhat of a commodity through the reproduced images in multiple colour ways.