Pink Floyd collectors just saw one painting by Syd Barrett exceed its auction reserve of £3,000 nine times.

Painted when Syd was 15 years old, Orange Dahlias in a Vase was auctioned on 27th May at Cheffins in Cambridge, to an Italian collector.

Roger ‘Syd’ Barrett painted Orange Dahlias in a Vase almost 60 years ago in October 1961 when he was a pupil at Cambridgeshire High School for Boys alongside Roger Waters and Pink Floyd artist Storm Thorgerson.

Graham Coxon on the Art of Syd Barrett

Barrett’s Art Teacher

Barrett gave the painting to his art teacher Gerald Harden shortly before he left to study art at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology and it has remained with Harden’s family until now.

Musicians, Art and Modern Auctions

The British art school influence on generations of bands, starting with The Beatles and extending to Blur, has made unique paintings (and even a palette, covered in paint, from the Stuart Sutcliffe estate) covetable items at auction. The teenage Syd’s present to his teacher has now set a new benchmark for Floyd collectors.