The first day of the auction of art owned by David Bowie has taken £24.3m ($30.7m) - more than double the pre-sale estimate, BBC reports.

The 47 artworks sold at Sotheby's in London on Thursday had been valued at between £8.1m ($10.2m) and £11.7m ($14.8m).

The most expensive lot was Jean-Michel Basquiat's Air Power, which went for £7.1m ($9m).

Meanwhile, Frank Auerbach's Head of Gerda Boehm fetched £3.8m ($4.8m).

A further 309 works owned by the late singer are going up for sale on Friday.

But the most valuable pieces went under the hammer on Thursday.

Bowie's family have kept artworks that are "of particular significance" but are selling the rest of his collection. The proceeds, after any fees and taxes are deducted, are going back to his estate.