Scottish Town Council Contemplates : An 18th-century bust, acquired for a mere £5 ($6) almost a century ago by a Scottish town council, may fetch more than £2.5 million ($3 million) in today’s market.
The sculpture, depicting landowner and lawmaker John Gordon, is the work of the renowned French artist Edmé Bouchardon. Described by Sotheby’s as “brilliantly executed,” the piece is now under consideration for sale by the Invergordon Town Council.
Reportedly, a private individual has expressed interest in purchasing the sculpture, with Sotheby’s experts suggesting it has reached its peak value. The council members will decide on the bust’s fate in an upcoming meeting. Proceeds from the potential sale would be used to “revitalize” the Invergordon Common Good Fund, benefiting the community. However, a full community consultation would precede any sale.
Initially displayed in the town hall, the bust was originally valued not for the sculptor’s talent but for its depiction of John Gordon, considered the founder of Invergordon. The sculpture was created by Bouchardon in 1728 during Gordon’s Grand Tour, a European journey taken by young aristocrats in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Bouchardon, who also served as a sculptor to Louis XV, was known for his impressive 17-foot sculpture of the French king, once situated in the Place de la Concorde in Paris until the French Revolution.
Despite its prestigious creator, little is known about the bust’s history since its acquisition by the council. According to local councilor Maxine Smith, the sculpture was discovered on an industrial estate in 1998. It had been serving as a doorstop, holding open a door, until its true value was realized.
The bust has made appearances at the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Getty Center in Los Angeles but remains in secure storage at the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery due to security concerns when in Scotland.
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