The collectible art markets have been awash with great results, this week - whether it's a new World Record price for an Andy Warhol, or £600,000 paid for a Lucian Freud portrait of model Jerry Hall while eight months pregnant.
Considering these big sales, a re-emergence on the markets of the man many consider to be the richest living artist to date was perhaps inevitable. That artist is, of course, Damien Hirst, who was the biggest-selling artist during last week's Frieze Art fair.
The auction, held by in London, saw Hirst's Lullaby Winter, a shiny stainless steel installation filled with painted cast pills, sell for $7,432,000.
Of course, Hirst is used to scoring multi-million sales. So used to them in fact that, instead of attending the final day of his record-breaking £111m Beautiful Inside My Head Forever auction at Sotheby's in 2008, he instead went to his favourite restaurant.
Ironically, it was at this restaurant that Hirst proved that his artworks aren't just for millionaire buyers. While there, the artist drew a signed sketch for the restaurant's doorman, Don.
Two years later, the signed gift from Hirst is to appear at Bloomsbury Auctions' London urban contemporary sale with an estimate of £1,500-2,000. Don will reportedly donate the proceeds from his sale to EGAR, a charity providing educational games and resources to schools and youth clubs.
What's more, Don's unique Damien Hirst sketch isn't the only one appearing in the sale. Another features three friends, Dave, Nick and Mat in a sketch drawn for them by Hirst in London's Soho, 11 years ago - after they mistook the artist for Chelsea footballer Dennis Wise.
A decade on, Nick has consigned his special doodle to Bloomsbury's sale. It is appearing with a lower estimate of £600-800 - apparently because Dave, Nick and Mat's drunkenness that night in Soho had a detrimental effect on the sketch's condition.
Bloomsbury Auctions' London sale is set to take place on October 21. Watch this space for upcoming news on the event.
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