Dumas painting has antiques valuation of up to £10k

The paining is of an old school friend.

African & Tribal Art

A piece of art believed to be the earliest painting by Marlene Dumas has been given an antiques valuation of between £7,000 and £10,000.

The item - which was created when the artist was still a schoolgirl - is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams on March 23rd 2011 in a sale of South African art.

The 1971 piece depicts a picture of one of her student friend's Alida Louw on her 16th birthday and has the words "happy birthday" across the top.

Ms Louw said she is "greatly flattered" the artist painted the picture of her, adding: "I would like to see this picture find a loving place between other Marlene Dumas' in the home of a passionate collector rather than remaining in obscurity."

This comes after a painting by Stanley Spencer went for more than twice its antiques valuation to sell for £1.43 million, the BBC reported.

Posted by Lisa Marriott

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