Sale of 4,000-year-old Sekhemka limestone figure will help pay for extension of Northampton museum and art gallery
The Egyptian ambassador to Britain had criticised the sale, claiming the council should have consulted with the Egyptian government first. Photograph: AP
An Egyptian statue controversially put up for auction by Northampton borough council has been sold for almost £16m.
The 4,000-year-old Sekhemka limestone figure, which was given to the town in 1880, went for almost £10m more than the guide price at the auction conducted by Christie's in London on Thursday night.
The Egyptian ambassador to Britain had earlier criticised the sale and said that the council should have consulted with his government first.
"Sekhemka belongs to Egypt and if Northampton borough council does not want it then it must be given back. It's not ethical that it will be sold for profit and also not acceptable," Ahsraf Elkholy told the BBC.
The council said that the funds raised by the sale would be used to help fund a major extension of the Northampton museum and art gallery. The local authority will retain about £8m, while Lord Northampton will enjoy a £6m windfall. The remaining £1.6m is the buyer's premium.
Christie's has not yet revealed the identity of the buyer.
The statue depicts a man called Sekhemka, who the inscription on the statue's base says was the inspector of the scribes of the royal court.
David Mackintosh, leader of the council, said that "every penny" of the funds raised by the sale would be ring-fenced for the museum service and allow its redevelopment plans to become a reality.
The sale was also opposed by some Northampton residents, who formed the Save Sekhemka Action Group. Some of its members protested outside Christie's while the auction took place.
Sue Edwards, a spokesperson for the group, said it was "the blackest day in Northampton's cultural history", adding that the town had been "shamed across the world".
Alan Moore, the comic book writer whose works include Watchmen and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, also condemned the council's decision to sell the statue.
The sale could cost the museum its Arts Council England accreditation status and prevent it from winning future government grants and funding.
The accreditation scheme sets out guidelines for museums to demonstrate their commitment to managing collections for the enjoyment and benefit of users.
Mackintosh said that Northampton had kept the Arts Council informed of its intentions and did not believe that the accredited status should be taken away.
The statue had not been on display for the past four years and that no one had asked to see it during that period, the councillor said.
"It's been in our ownership for over 100 years and it's never really been the centrepiece of our collection," Mackintosh told BBC Look East. "We want to expand our museum and to do that we need to raise the money."
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/10/northampton-borough-council-sells-egyptian-statue-sekhemka
The 4,000-year-old Sekhemka limestone figure, which was given to the town in 1880, went for almost £10m more than the guide price at the auction conducted by Christie's in London on Thursday night.
The Egyptian ambassador to Britain had earlier criticised the sale and said that the council should have consulted with his government first.
"Sekhemka belongs to Egypt and if Northampton borough council does not want it then it must be given back. It's not ethical that it will be sold for profit and also not acceptable," Ahsraf Elkholy told the BBC.
The council said that the funds raised by the sale would be used to help fund a major extension of the Northampton museum and art gallery. The local authority will retain about £8m, while Lord Northampton will enjoy a £6m windfall. The remaining £1.6m is the buyer's premium.
Christie's has not yet revealed the identity of the buyer.
The statue depicts a man called Sekhemka, who the inscription on the statue's base says was the inspector of the scribes of the royal court.
David Mackintosh, leader of the council, said that "every penny" of the funds raised by the sale would be ring-fenced for the museum service and allow its redevelopment plans to become a reality.
The sale was also opposed by some Northampton residents, who formed the Save Sekhemka Action Group. Some of its members protested outside Christie's while the auction took place.
Sue Edwards, a spokesperson for the group, said it was "the blackest day in Northampton's cultural history", adding that the town had been "shamed across the world".
Alan Moore, the comic book writer whose works include Watchmen and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, also condemned the council's decision to sell the statue.
The sale could cost the museum its Arts Council England accreditation status and prevent it from winning future government grants and funding.
The accreditation scheme sets out guidelines for museums to demonstrate their commitment to managing collections for the enjoyment and benefit of users.
Mackintosh said that Northampton had kept the Arts Council informed of its intentions and did not believe that the accredited status should be taken away.
The statue had not been on display for the past four years and that no one had asked to see it during that period, the councillor said.
"It's been in our ownership for over 100 years and it's never really been the centrepiece of our collection," Mackintosh told BBC Look East. "We want to expand our museum and to do that we need to raise the money."
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/10/northampton-borough-council-sells-egyptian-statue-sekhemka
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