Why has the UK placed an export ban on the Sir John Gordon bust?

The UK government imposed a temporary export ban to prevent the sale of the 18th-century marble bust to an overseas buyer, hoping it can be acquired by a UK institution.

What is the value of the marble bust of Sir John Gordon?

The marble bust of Sir John Gordon has a recommended sale price of £3.1 million.

Who is Sir John Gordon and why is his bust significant?

Sir John Gordon was an 18th-century politician and landowner whose family founded Invergordon. The bust is significant for its aesthetic importance and its contribution to the study of British and European sculpture.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / UK Halts Art Export: $3.1M Bust's Fate Uncertain

UK Halts Art Export: $3.1M Bust's Fate Uncertain

9 Jan

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Summary

UK government placed a temporary export ban on an 18th-century marble bust.
The bust of Sir John Gordon has a recommended sale price of £3.1m.
The ban aims to keep the artwork in the UK for a gallery or museum.

UK Halts Art Export: $3.1M Bust's Fate Uncertain

The UK government has intervened with a temporary export ban on an 18th-century marble bust, originally created by Edmé Bouchardon in 1728. The artwork, depicting Highland landowner Sir John Gordon, carries a recommended sale price of £3.1 million. This move is intended to prevent the sale of the sculpture to an international buyer.

The bust was originally intended for sale by Highland Council to fund projects in Invergordon, a town founded by the Gordon family. However, culture minister Baroness Twycross expressed hope that the "extraordinary" sculpture could be acquired by a UK institution. The decision on the export license application has been deferred until April 8, allowing time for potential offers.

This government intervention was prompted by the reviewing committee on the export of works of art, which emphasized the bust's "aesthetic importance" and "outstanding significance" to the study of sculpture in Britain and Europe. Invergordon Museum celebrated the ban as a "vital victory" for heritage, hoping to display the bust locally.