Andy Warhol Mao painting has antiques valuation of up to $30k

An Andy Warhol painting with bullet holes in it has attracted an antiques valuation of between $20,000 (£12,839) and $30,000.

The item - a portrait of Mao Zedong - was punctured twice by Dennis Hopper's bullets and is set to go under the hammer at Christie's, the Associated Press reports.

It is among 300 pieces previously owned by actor-director Hopper - who died of prostate cancer in May at the age of 74 - who earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last year.

Cathy Elkies, Christie's director of iconic collections, said the actor - who appeared in Apocalypse Now and Speed - was told by Vincent Price that collecting these items would be a good idea.

She added Mr Price said to him: "You need to collect, this is where you need to put your money."

This comes after a Warhol black and white canvas of a Coca-Cola bottle fetched $35.36 million at auction last year.

Posted by Keith Leicester