Chairman Mao worth $0.99 - $17.4 million

Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau is shelling out US$17.4 million for Andy Warhol's 1972 painting of Chairman Mao.








Mao by Warhol (1972) -- auctioned for $17.4 million in 2006




Mao by Zhang Zhenshi (1950) -- the model for the portrait hanging at the Forbidden City. Pulled from sale in 2006 after too many Chinese citizens complained that it belongs in a museum, and that to sell it would just be selling out to more capitalism.

Well, it was indeed sold, to China's National Museum in September 2006, for an "undisclosed sum". Somehow an American had owned it. . .















"Mao Goes to Anyuan" by Liu Chunhua 刘春华 (1960s) -- bought in 1995 by "The Construction Bank Guangzhou Branch" for RMB6.05 million (US$737,800).

















Red China # 5", Yan Pei Ming (2001), E138,000 (US$176,000) in October 2005; resold two months later for E190,000 (US$244,000).




"Long Live Mao's Thought" poster. (1968). Sold by Ebay in November 2006 for US$0.99.

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Since at least 1996, Maos have been selling well. . . to collectors, people who just want a showpiece for the office & etc.

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