Rare Banksy artwork could fetch £60,000 at McTear's auction house in Glasgow

A Banksy is set to go to auction in Glasgow with experts estimating the piece could fetch between £40,000 and £60,000.

The hand-finished screenprint entitled AGILE includes a rare dedication from the artist that reads “Thanks Chris”, followed by a peace symbol.

The screenprint was produced specially as a gift to the current vendor, and comes with a certificate of authenticity from Pest Control, Banksy’s verification platform.

Experts have estimated the piece could bring between £40,000 and £60,000 when it goes under the hammer at luxury auction house McTear’s on December 14.

The artwork features a white mouse sliding down a freight box marked “FRAGILE,” the rodent’s claws have scratched out the “F” and “R,” leaving behind the word “AGILE”, which is a nod to the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

In true Banksy style, it is believed that the distinctive scratch marks were made using a pizza cutter, with each print featuring a different scratch pattern. The serial number on the freight box is a reference to the completion date of the artwork.

Banksy enthusiasts will be familiar with the rare piece after 50 limited edition prints similar to this one were sold via the Legacy of War Foundation website in 2022.

The prints were sold as part of a fundraising campaign to support civilians affected by the conflict in Ukraine, with a staggering 1.3m applications submitted for the coveted pieces.

The screenprint set to go on auction was not included in the limited collection

McTear’s director, Magda Ketterer, said: “This is an important and evocative work that showcases the artist’s unique style, with his trademark ‘rodent’ image at the heart of the piece.

“We rarely see Banksy works of this quality come to auction in Scotland, and it is wonderful that it will go under the hammer in Glasgow, a city that is close to the artist’s heart.

“The personal dedication and the fact that this piece was produced separately from the original edition of 50, lift this artwork to a different level. We anticipate significant interest from art enthusiasts across the UK and overseas, and we are looking forward to a lively sale in December.”