Early Hirst collage sells for £32,000

Red Rubber Ball by Damien Hirst was bough by an Irish collector

A COLLAGE made by artist Damien Hirst during his student days was sold to an Irish collector at auction yesterday for £32,110.

The piece, Red Rubber Ball, features various found objects, including a plastic toy rabbit, a doll’s severed head and a dried rose.

It was a gift from the artist to the owner Julie Balmforth who studied fine art at Goldsmiths College with him.

The 39.5” x 31.5” piece was expected to sell for between £30,000 and £50,000, but went under the hammer for £32,110, including buyer’s premium, at Duke’s of Dorchester, Dorset.

Auctioneer Guy Schwinge said: “It sold to an Irish collector who is very excited at his purchase.

“There was a lot of excitement because it was an early one; he had just left college, and his early work rarely goes on the market.” – (PA)