Andy Warhol's 1972 "Mao" screenprint, sold for $302,500. Photo: Christie's Images LTD 2010

By Mackie Healy, Art Market Views, Contributor

A two-day auction from the estate of actor Dennis Hopper raised $3.4 million at Christie’s in New York this week.

A 1972 blue and green Warhol print of Mao Zedong was the top lot, fetching ten times the presale estimate.

The portrait — from an edition of 250, plus 50 artist’s proofs — sold for a whopping $302,500, crushing the $30,000 presale high estimate. The work, which included a pair of Hopper inflicted bullet holes, was acquired by investment banker Amed Khan, according to salesroom reports.

The sales raised the the tally of Hopper’s estate to $14.7 million. The priciest material was sold last November, including a 1987 Basquiat fetching $5.8 million. (Preview of that sale here).

The events came with a touch of drama as Christie’s yanked 32 items following a court order in connection with Hopper’s estranged wife. (Hopper was in the process of divorcing 42-year-old Victoria Duffy Hopper, his fifth wife, when he died in May at the age of 74.)

The offerings featured nearly 250 objects from Hopper’s Venice Beach pad, including works by Bruce Conner, Ed Ruscha, Charles Arnoldi, Theodore Stamos  and Wallace Berman.  Tuesday’s Interiors sale included artworks, while Wednesday’s sale featured Hollywood memorabilia from his movie star days, including movie posters and the script from Easy Rider, which sold for $15,000.

Christie’s Interiors Top Ten (prices include buyer’s premium):
Title/Artist/Year/Purchase Price/Estimate/Buyer (according to auction house records)

1. Mao by Andy Warhol, in collaboration with Dennis Hopper, 1972 $302,500 (est. $20,000 – $30,000) U.S. Private (Dennis Hopper Collection)
2. Marilyn by Andy Warhol, 1967 $206,500 (est. $40,000 – $60,000) Asian Private (Dennis Hopper Collection)
3. Picnic on the Grass by Bruce Conner, 1962 $96,100 (est. $10,000- $15,000) U.S. Trade (Dennis Hopper Collection)
4. Untitled by Theodoros Stamos, 1970 $56,250 (est. $10,000 – $15,000) European Private (Dennis Hopper Collection)
5. I Bury Hachets by Charles Arnoldi, 1985 $47,500 (est. $15,000 – $20,000) U.S. Trade (Dennis Hopper Collection)
6. Untitled by Wallace Berman, 1963 $42,500 (est. $12,000 – $18,000) U.S. Private (Dennis Hopper Collection)
7. VOWEL #73 (O), VOWEL #77 (E), VOWEL #79 (Y) by Edward Ruscha, 1996 $32,500 (est. $6,000 – $8,000) European Trade (Dennis Hopper Collection)
8. Untitled by Gerhard Richter, 1988 $32,500 (est. $6,000 – $8,000) European Private (Dennis Hopper Collection)
9. Cummings Specials by Lynda Benglis, 1993 $32,500 (est. $5,000 – $7,000) U.S. Private
10. A Chinese Pale Greyish White Jade Censer and Pierced Cover, 19th century $32,500 (est. $2,500 – $3,500) Asian Private