It was purchased for 9,000 won, and it turned out that it was worth 4.5 billion won
Nov 08, 2024
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According to British media such as the BBC and Daily Mail, a marble bust stored in a Scottish Highland City Council warehouse will soon be auctioned off at Sotheby's.
The auction house estimated that the bust would be worth about 2.5 million pounds (about 4.5 billion won). It is known that there are already purchase inquiries.
The bust is a sculpture by the French artist Edme Buschardon, who made the garden sculpture of the Palace of Versailles in 1728, depicting Sir John Gordon, a wealthy man and member of Parliament who lived in the Highlands.
The bust has been kept by Sir John Gordon's family at Invergordon Castle, where a fire broke out in the castle in the 19th century but survived.
Later, the city of Invergorden purchased the bust for just £5 (about 9,000 won) in 1930. It was originally intended to be displayed at the city hall, but disappeared in the process of reorganizing local governments. Then, in 1998, the bust was found in an industrial complex in the city of Highland, about 23 kilometers from the city of Invergorden. At the time, the bust was used as a door stopper (which prevents the door from automatically closing).
Since then, there has been a dispute over ownership between the city of Invergordon and the city of Highland over the bust. In the midst of years of conflict, the bust has been stored in a Highland city warehouse after overseas exhibitions.
Recently, the two sides agreed that it was a public interest fund asset and it was put up for auction.
A City Council member said "A successful bid for £2.5 million would generate interest income of £125,000 (about W220 million) per year which would be invested in the community."
bellho@sportschosun.com
