A Frida Kahlo painting small enough to fit in the palm of a hand sold for $1.2 million at auction here — going for 12 times what experts had expected.

The 6-by-4¾-inch painting, called “Survivor,” was expected to take in just $100,000, but after several minutes of intense bidding the price shot well past $1,178,500. It was snatched up by a private collector, Christie’s said yesterday.