On July 8, as part of its "Exceptional Sale" in London, Christie's presented one of the last eight drawings by Leonardo da Vinci still in private hands.
Related: This Rare Da Vinci Drawing Could Set a Record
"Head of a bear", considered a very realistic depiction of the animal by standards of the time, was offered with an estimate of £8-12 million ($11-17 million) which clearly anticipated a record for a drawing by the artist.
Related: The First Known Artworks of 10 Famous Artists
The hammer fell to £7.5 million ($10.4 million) after a very short bidding session, selling to American collectors. The drawing, which measures just 7 x 7 cm sold with fees for £8.8 million ($12.2 million), constituting a new world record for a drawing by da Vinci.
"Head of a Bear" dethrones "Horse and Rider" a silver-tipped sketch that had held the record since 2001. It sold at Christie's for £8.1 million.
For more news from the auction market, see Barnebys Magazine
