Santa Claus
from Myths

Medium: Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board with diamond dust
Year: 1981
Sheet: 38×38 inches (96.5 x 96.5 cm)
Edition: 200
Artist’s Proofs: 30 AP
Printer’s Proofs: 5 PP
Exhibitor’s Proofs: 5 EP
Hors Commerce: 1 HC
Trial Proofs: 30 TP in unique color combination, most with diamond dust
(see Feldman & Schellmann IIB.266)
Publisher: Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York
Printer: Rupert Jasen Smith, New-York
Literature: Feldman & Schellmann II.266

Each signed in pencil, and numbered with the artist’s copyright inkstamps on the reverse

 

Santa Claus is part of Myths
(Click on picture below to access the Catalogue Entry)

 

 

While Andy Warhol kept his devout Catholicism close to chest, his love of Christmas he did not. Those who knew Warhol well were aware of his obsession with Christmas. He adored color, excess and festivity, associated with the holiday season, as evident in a number of kitsch illustrations and greetings cards, he created since the 1950s when working as a commercial illustrator, and the festive Polaroids, like the one with Truman Capote clad in festive garb. Equally ardent was Warhol’s interest in Santa Claus, a fictitious character recognizable around the world, and in this sense, a ‘celebrity’ as much as Marilyn Monroe or Liz Taylor. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Warhol made Santa Claus one of ten mythical icons that constituted his 1981 Myths series.

Myths (Santa), 1981
Unique polaroid print
4.2 x 3.4 inches (10.8 x 8.5 cm)

It is impossible to truly know the man behind the beard on the Polaroid portrait of Santa Claus that Warhol used for the present work, however it seems that the artist’s intent in creating this character is to pit our childhood idealism against the cynicism of adulthood. Beneath the typology of “Santa” there lurks a man with a sly, subversive smile that can win the affections of small children with toys and treats. Like in Warhol’s Ladies and Gentlemen, we are facing here a figure that lives in two worlds, fantasy and reality, and Warhol leaves the viewer with the option open.

 

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Auction Market Overview

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Regular Editions

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Forum Auctions: 31 March 2026
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 13,000 (Hammer)
GBP 17,116 / USD 22,645

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Santa Claus (Feldman & Schellmann II.266), 1981
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered from the edition of 190 in pencil
Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith, with his blindstamp
Published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts Inc., New York
With their rubber-stamp verso

Sotheby’s New-York: 27 February 2026
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 35,840

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths (Feldman & Schellmann II.266), 1981
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil and numbered 47/200 (lower right)
This impression is number 47 from the edition of 200 plus 30 artist’s proofs
With the blindstamp of the printer, Rupert Jasen Smith
Published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Inc.

Palm Beach Modern: 21 February 2026
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
PASSED

ANDY WARHOL (American, 1928-1987)
Santa Claus from the “Myths” portfolio, 1981
(Frayda Feldman and Jorge Schellmann, vol. II, cat. no. 226)
Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board
Edition: 87/200
Signed with blindstamp

LA Modern: 7 January 2026
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 40,000
PASSED

ANDY WARHOL (1928–1987)
Santa Claus (Feldman/Schellmann II.266), 1981
from the Myths series
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered to lower right ‘87/200 Andy Warhol’
Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith, New York
Published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Inc., New York

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Christie’s New-York: 16 April 2025
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 32,760

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths (Feldman and Schellmann II.266), 1981
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil, numbered 65⁄200

Christie’s online: 14 February 2025
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 50,400

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths (Feldman and Schellmann II.266), 1981
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil, numbered 135/200 (there were also 30 artist’s proofs)

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Heritage Auctions: 16 April 2024
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 37,500

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Ed. 149/200 (aside from 41 proofs, variously editioned)
Signed and editioned in pencil, lower right; printer’s chop mark, lower left

Artnet Auctions: 20 March 2024
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 27,500

Sotheby’s online: 20 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 25,400 / USD 32,258

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil, inscribed and numbered AP 14/30

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Heritage Auctions: 24 October 2023
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 32,500

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screen-print in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil Andy Warhol and numbered 149/200

Sotheby’s New-York: 3 October 2023
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 33,020

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screen-print in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil Andy Warhol and inscribed AP 5/30 (lower right)
One of 30 artist’s proofs aside from the numbered edition of 200

Sotheby’s New-York: 19 April 2023
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 30,480

ANDY WARHOL
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screen-print in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil and numbered 132/200

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Artnet Auctions: 21 December 2022
Estimated: USD 22,000 – 28,000
USD 45,000

ANDY WARHOL (American, 1928–1987)
Santa Claus (from Myths), 1981
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed and numbered in pencil
Artist’s Proof 13/50 aside from an edition of 200

Mainichi Auction: 29 October 2022
Estimated: JPY 1,500,000 – 2,500,000
JPY 3,000,000 (Hammer)
JPY 3,900,000 / USD 26,445

ANDY WARHOL
Santa Claus from Myths (F & S.II.266), 1981
Screenprint, diamond dust
Signed and editioned from AP30 at lower right image
With a copyright stamp on verso

Sotheby’s New-York: 28 October 2022
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 30,240

ANDY WARHOL
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screen-print in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil and inscribed AP 22/30
This impression is one of 30 artist’s proofs aside from the numbered edition of 200

Est-Ouest Auctions Tokyo: 22 May 2022
Estimated: JPY 1,000,000 – 1,500,000
JPY 2,904,000 / USD 22,840

ANDY WARHOL
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screen-print with diamond dust
Signed and numbered on the lower right
From the edition of 200

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Lempertz Cologne: 4 December 2021
Estimated: EUR 15,000 – 20,000
EUR 27,500 / USD 31,115

Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2021
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 25,000
USD 52,920
AUCTION RECORD FOR SANTA CLAUS (REGULAR EDITION)

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Santa Claus (F&S II.266), 1981
Screen-print in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil and numbered 19/200

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Grisebach Berlin: 4 December 2020
Estimated: EUR 15,000 – 25,000
EUR 20,000 / USD 24,280

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
“Santa Claus” (from ‘MYTHS’ SERIES), 1981
Color silkscreen with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed, artist’s proof edition of 30 a.p. from a total edition of 230

Sotheby’s London: 19 March 2020
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 12,500 / USD 14,640

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
SANTA CLAUS (F. & S. II.266) from Myths, 1981
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil, numbered 178/200

Forum Auction London: 21 January 2020
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 17,000 (Hammer)
GBP 22,304 / USD 29,100

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Santa Claus (Feldman & Schellmann II.266), 1981
Screenprint in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil, from the edition of 200

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Santa Claus (157/200), 1981
Rago: 8 November 2019
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 25,000
USD 21,250

Santa Claus (174/200), 1981
Sotheby’s London: 17 September 2019
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 20,000 / USD 24,470

Santa Claus (AP 9/30), 1981
Deutscher & Hackett: 28 August 2019
Estimated: AUD 20,000 – 30,000
AUD 32,940 / USD 22,190

Santa Claus (196/200), 1981
Sotheby’s New-York: 29 April 2019
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 22,500

Santa Claus (104/200), 1981
Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2018
Estimated: USD 18,000 – 24,000
USD 21,250

Santa Claus (115/200), 1981
Sotheby’s Hong-Kong: 8 December 2017
Estimated: HKD 95,000 – 120,000
HKD 262,500 / USD 33,630

 

 

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Trial Proofs

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Santa Claus (TP 24/30), 1981 

Sotheby’s New-York: 28 October 2022
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 52,920
TRIAL PROOF

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Screen-print in colors on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil and inscribed TP 24/30
This impression is one of 30 trial proofs aside from the regular edition of 200 plus 30 artist’s proofs

Santa Claus (TP 26/30), 1981 

Sotheby’s New-York: 30 April 2019
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 32,500
TRIAL PROOF

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
SANTA CLAUS (SEE F. & S. IIB.266) from Myths, 1981
Screenprint in a unique color combination with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil and inscribed ‘T.P. 26/30’
A trial proof aside from the numbered edition of 250 plus 30 artist’s proofs

Santa Claus (TP 17/30), 1981 

Christie’s New-York: 28 October 2015
Estimated: USD 12,000 – 18,000
USD 47,500

ANDY WARHOL (1928 – 1987)
Santa Claus, from Myths, 1981
Unique screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil, numbered ‘T.P. 17/30’
A trial proof, the edition was 250 plus 30 artist’s proofs
Published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York
With the publisher’s and the artist’s copyright inkstamp on the reverse

Santa Claus (TP 19/30), 1981 

Christie’s Los Angeles: 13 December 1999
Estimated: USD 3,500 – 4,500
USD 3,025
TRIAL PROOF

ANDY WARHOL
Santa Claus, for Myths (F. and S. B.266), 1981
Unique screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
Signed in pencil, numbered ‘T.P. 19/30’
One of 30 unique color variants aside from the edition of 200 plus 30 artist’s proofs

 

Other Trial Proofs with unidentified numbering