A stab-proof vest decorated with a Union Jack created by British street artist Banksy, similar to the one worn by hip-hop star Stormzy at the Glastonbury Festival, sold in London for 780,000 pounds ($1 million) on Wednesday.
The jacket, made from former police uniforms, was one of five created by the graffiti artist to highlight the high levels of knife crime in the UK, and went under the hammer at Sotheby’s.
British rapper Stormzy made the jacket famous when he wore another jacket from the same collection during his 2019 performance on the main stage at Glastonbury.
“In a way that only Banksy can, he manages to powerfully condense a complex social issue through a single, fragrant piece,” said Emma Baker, Sotheby’s head of contemporary evening sales.
She added: “There is no doubt that this work of art is even more important now than it was when the first jacket made its debut at Glastonbury – an event that made it a symbol of a defining cultural moment.”
The sale value was more than double the pre-sale estimate of £300,000.
Last month, London police charged two men with burglary after another Banksy work, “Girl with a Balloon,” was stolen from an exhibition in the British capital.