A banana duct-taped to a wall has sold for $6.2m (£4.9m) at an auction in New York.

The conceptual art piece, called Comedian, became a viral sensation after Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan debuted it at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019.

Festivalgoers tried to make out whether the single piece of fruit stuck to a white wall with silver tape was a joke or cheeky commentary on questionable standards among art collectors.

The Sotheby’s auction house said it was the announcement of a…