Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on pinterest
Share on email

Bomb Middle England, 2003

BY

Bomb Middle England, 2003
Edition: 500 (50 signed)

‘People who get up early in the morning cause war, death and famine.’

Bomb Middle England shows three middle-aged ladies playing boules on a strip of grass created from two horizontal planes of green, the only elements of color in an otherwise muted palette. At closer look, the viewer can notice the boule balls are no other than cannonballs, with lit fuses.
In fact, those ladies seem to be enjoying a game of petanque, a traditional afternoon activity for what could be described as the elite traditional older class. The composition is also a striking element of this horizontal print with a clear separation between the players at a safe distance from the lit fuses. One might say Banksy has chosen his side as he signed and numbered under the bombs…
Banksy thus illustrates how the elite and power in charge is believed to be indifferent to the violence and devastation of war, as they seem to throw bombs without a care. It also portrays a cynical parody of war as a game played by those in power who can decide to expend the lives of others and never suffer any of the consequences.

Banksy, Banging Your Head Against A Brick Wall, November 2001
Bomb Middle England first appeared as a mural spray-painted in Banksy’s hometown of Bristol. An earlier version, in spray-paint and acrylic on canvas, was sold in 2007 at Sotheby’s for GBP 107,000. At the time, it held the record set for an artwork by Banksy. Banksy did a few originals with this image.

DESCRIPTION

Bomb Middle England

Year: 2003
Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Size: 35×100 cm (13 5/8 x 39 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Total Edition: 500
of which 50 prints are signed
Artist’s Proofs: 31 signed AP
A run of 31 Artist’s Proofs were released in 2005 for Lazarides Gallery.

 

AUCTION RESULTS

1. BME (unsigned)

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold once at auction in 2024, at Bonhams in London, on 19 November 2024, for GBP 10,240 (USD 12,985).

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold 5 times at auction in 2023 for a total turnover of GBP 76,410 (USD 94,580) at an average price of GBP 15,282 (USD 18,916). Its highest price of GBP 17,780 (USD 21,627) has been achieved at Sotheby’s online on 26 September 2023.

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold 6 times at auction in 2022 for a total turnover of GBP 112,195 (USD 134,792) at an average price of GBP 18,699 (USD 22,465).

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold 9 times at auction in 2021 for a total turnover of GBP 291,839 (USD 404,415) at an average price of GBP 32,427 (USD 44,935). It sold at Forum Auctions on 5 March 2021 for GBP 48,240 (USD 67,055), its all-time high auction record.

2024 Auction Results

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold once at auction in 2024, at Bonhams in London, on 19 November 2024, for GBP 10,240 (USD 12,985).

Bonhams London: 19 November 2024
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 10,240 / USD 12,985

BANKSY (born 1974)
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2002
Screenprint in colors
Numbered 172/500 in pencil

 

2023 Auction Results

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold 5 times at auction in 2023 for a total turnover of GBP 76,410 (USD 94,580) at an average price of GBP 15,282 (USD 18,916). Its highest price of GBP 17,780 (USD 21,627) has been achieved at Sotheby’s online on 26 September 2023.

2023 Auction Results

 

Sotheby’s London: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 17,780 / USD 21,627

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 56/500

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 15,000 / USD 18,466

BANKSY
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 362/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Forum Auctions: 22 February 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
Hammer Price: GBP 12,000
GBP 16,080 / USD 19,778

BANKSY
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 500

2022 Auction Results

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold 6 times at auction in 2022 for a total turnover of GBP 112,195 (USD 134,792) at an average price of GBP 18,699 (USD 22,465).

2022 Auction Results

 

 

Heritage Auctions: 26 October 2022
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 25,000
USD 25,501

BANKSY
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 281/500 in pencil, lower right

Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 20,160 / USD 24,192

BANKSY
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 59/500 in pencil, lower right

2021 Auction Results

Bomb Middle England (unsigned) sold 9 times at auction in 2021 for a total turnover of GBP 291,839 (USD 404,415) at an average price of GBP 32,427 (USD 44,935). It sold at Forum Auctions on 5 March 2021 for GBP 48,240 (USD 67,055), its all-time high auction record.

Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 32,760 / USD 45,536
BANKSY
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 360/500 in pencil, lower right
Bonhams London: 25 February 2021
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000

GBP 44,000 / USD 62,120

BANKSY
Bomb Middle England (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 194/500 in pencil, lower right

 

2. BME (signed)

Bomb Middle England (signed) has not sold at auction since 2008. A signed AP from the AP Edition of 31 last sold at Sotheby’s online on 19 September 2019 for GBP 18,750.

 

Tate Ward Auctions: 19 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 16,000 – 22,000
GBP 23,750 / USD 30,615

BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Bomb Middle England’ (signed), 2002
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in black ink, numbered 03/500 in pencil

Sotheby’s online: 19 September 2019
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 18,750 / USD 23,030
 
BANKSY
Bomb Middle England (signed AP), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, lower right
Inscribed ‘AP-12/31’ in pencil, lower right

Gallery

More like this

wpChatIcon
wpChatIcon