From warehouse to Louvre: marble bust proves worth millions

A remarkable find is causing quite a stir in Scotland: a marble bust of Sir John Gordon, once bought for a pittance and used as a doorstop. Now the early 18th-century masterpiece by French sculptor Edmé Bouchardon is up for sale – and this time it’s only opening its doors to the highest bidder…

In 1930, Invergordon Council acquired the bust for just £5.60, with the intention of displaying it in the Town Hall. Former Invergordon councillor Maxine Smith, now part of Highland Council, told The Guardian how she discovered the bust. While searching a warehouse for lost ceremonial robes, she unexpectedly stumbled upon a remarkable find. “I found the robes,” she said, “and next to them a small white marble statue that served as a doorstop. It could have easily ended up in the trash.”

The artwork has since been exhibited in prestigious institutions such as the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the Louvre in Paris. 

In a May report, the Highland Council said an overseas buyer had submitted a bid of more than €2.9 million through Sotheby's. The unnamed buyer also offered to fund a museum-quality replica so the bust could remain on display in the region.