Lehman Brothers going once, twice, sold

LONDON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Demand for paintings, collectibles and signs owned by Lehman Brothers' London headquarters kept auctioneers busy Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Christies said.

"It's a very unique auction and the room was busier than usual," spokeswoman Leonie Ashfield told The New York Times.

Up for sale from the investment bank that symbolizes the recent financial crisis were maps, miniature models, mahogany dressing cases and a large, metal Lehman Brothers sign that sold for $66,355 to an anonymous bidder.

Art student Caroline Stuart said she was interested "in lettering and typography and in the fact that these particular letters have become a byword for the banking crisis."

Bidding for the day peaked at $189,000, the price of a green and black Gary Hume painting called Madonna. The collection of memorabilia also included two Lucian Freud etchings and an 1870 collection of William Shakespeare's writings, the Times said.

A similar Lehman Brothers auction in New York took in $12 million. The proceeds for both auctions are being used to repay the firm's creditors.