This is an undated image of an art work from British artist Banksy made available by Haringey Council Wednesday Feb. 20, 2013. The stencil by the famed, secretive graffiti artist of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine appeared on the side of a north London bargain store last May. Soon the gritty Turnpike Lane area was drawing art lovers keen to see Banksy's typically cheeky take on the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the British throne. Last week it vanished, leaving nothing but a rectangle of exposed brick — only to reappear on the website of a Miami auction house. Listed as "Slave Labor (Bunting Boy)," it is due to be sold Saturday with an estimated price of between $500,000 and $700,000. (AP Photo/Haringey Council) NO ARCHIVE
Banksy graffiti auction halted after UK outcry
Published: 01:48:27 PM, Sun 24 February 2013 UTC
LONDON (AP) — A mural by secretive graffiti artist Banksy has been withdrawn from an auction sale after a campaign by London residents to reclaim it.
The stencil of a young boy sewing Union Jack bunting on an antique sewing machine vanished earlier this month from the side of a north London bargain store. Only exposed brick remained at the site, but the artwork has appeared on the website of a Miami auction house.
The mural was due to be sold Saturday with an estimated price of between $500,000 and $700,000. Fine Art Auctions Miami later said that the item was withdrawn from sale, though it did not explain why.
Claire Kober, leader of local authority Haringey Council, said it will now try to bring the artwork back to the community.
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