18th-Century Bust Found as Shed Doorstop Could Fetch $4.5M for Scottish Town

18th-Century Bust’s Journey from Shed Doorstop to Million-Dollar Sale

An 18th-century marble bust could soon bring £2.5 million ($4.5 million Cdn) to Invergordon, Scotland. This bust, created by French artist Edmé Bouchardon, represents John Gordon, a Scottish politician often credited with founding Invergordon.

After years of complications, a Scottish court approved the sale to a private buyer. Invergordon councilor Maxine Smith expressed excitement over the potential funding for local improvements.

Historical Background

The bust’s history is somewhat unclear. John Gordon commissioned it in 1728 while traveling through Europe. He returned home in the late 1700s with the bust. In the 19th century, a fire destroyed Gordon’s family castle, but the bust survived. Eventually, it ended up in Kindeace House, a mansion that went bankrupt in the 1930s.

In 1931, Invergordon’s town clerk purchased the bust for £5 (equivalent to around £286 today) at an estate sale. The council intended to display it in the Town Hall, but it never made it out of storage.

Rediscovery

In the 1980s, the bust disappeared during town council restructuring. It was not found until Smith, while investigating missing mayoral chains, stumbled upon it in 1998. The bust was ironically propping open a door in a storage shed.

Rising Value

Sotheby’s appraised the bust in 2023, valuing it at £2.5 million. It was previously displayed in the Louvre and the Getty Museum but has remained in storage due to insurance costs for public display.

Smith has long advocated selling the bust and replacing it with a replica. Last year, an anonymous buyer offered to purchase it and create a replica for the town. Following public consultations, the Highland Council approved the sale.

Final Steps

Despite the sale’s approval, there is a possible challenge ahead. The Waverley Criteria may be invoked to determine if the bust must remain in Scotland as a national treasure. Some museums have expressed interest in housing the bust but have not offered to buy it.

Proceeds from the sale will go to the Invergordon Common Good Fund, aimed at improving the community. Smith indicated she would be content if a local buyer acquired it, emphasizing the importance of benefiting Invergordon.