Description:

Andy Warhol
n.p., n.d.
Andy Warhol's Personally Owned Backgammon Checker! Ex. Sotheby's "The Andy Warhol Collection"
Relic

Rare and visually captivating relic from the personal collection of pop art legend Andy Warhol. The original backgammon game piece or checker was personally owned and used by Warhol himself. The piece is beautifully matted in a striking velvet display, featuring vibrant, Warhol-style pop art imagery along with a reference image from the Sotheby's 1988 "The Andy Warhol Collection" auction catalog, where this item was originally offered. The checker, encased in the center of the display, is simple in form yet rich in provenance. Its ivory-toned surface evokes the minimalist aesthetic Warhol often brought into his private life, a sharp contrast to his bold and saturated works on canvas. Whether used during intimate gatherings at The Factory or during his quieter moments at home, this piece offers a unique link to Warhol's everyday world. Accompanied by a certificate signed by John Reznikoff and Luke Pascal. The display measures 11" x 14".

Andy Warhol (1928–1987) was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century art, a pioneer of the Pop Art movement whose work blurred the boundaries between high art and popular culture. From his Campbell's Soup Cans to his electric portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Warhol reshaped the art world with bold color, commercial imagery, and mass production techniques. But behind the fame and flashbulbs was a man deeply engaged in collecting, not just art, but personal curiosities, antiques, and everyday objects.

Following Warhol's sudden death in 1987, his estate was famously liquidated in a landmark 1988 sale conducted by Sotheby's New York. Spanning ten days and attracting international attention, the auction revealed the breadth of Warhol's collecting habits, from fine art to kitsch to furniture and board games. This backgammon checker was part of that extraordinary event, offering a unique and deeply personal glimpse into Warhol's daily life and recreational tastes.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 11" x 14"
  • Medium: Relic

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Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

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November 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000