A sculpture with an estimated value of $3 millionwhich was used for years as door stop on an industrial site in Scotlandis expected to be sold, subject to court approval. The sculpture, the “Bouchardon Bust“, was created at the beginning of the 18th century by the French sculptor Edmé Bouchardon and depicts John Gordon, an important figure and founder of the town of Invergordon.
Originally, in 1930, it was purchased by Invergordon Town Council for its local exhibition, but was ultimately never displayed and was found in 1998 to be used to hold a door open. In 2016, the bust was loaned to the Louvre Museum and in 2017 to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, generating great interest in collectors’ circles.
In the latest development, a private collector has offered over £2.5 million to purchase the work, with a commitment to fund the creation of an exact replica for the local community. The City Council has launched a public consultation, and after the court’s approval, it is expected to decide whether the work will be designated a “national treasure” – a fact that could limit its export abroad, according to the Waverley criteria.
The discovery of this sculpture and the current process of selling it shed light on the history and significance of the work for local and national heritage.
Source: CNN
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What legal and ethical obligations might a town council have regarding the disposition of a potentially historically significant artwork, even if it was previously lost and rediscovered? [[1](https://www.naiop.org/research-and-publications/magazine/2018/winter-2018-2019/development-ownership/pondering-public-art-legal-concerns-and-artists-rights-are-part-of-the-palette/)]
So, we have a situation where a town council bought a potentially $3 million sculpture in 1930, lost it on an industrial site, found it being used as a doorstop, and now a private collector is offering a large sum for it. Now, this collector is willing to ensure a replica stays in the town, but should a piece of history with potential national significance be in private hands? What do you, our viewers think?
