Mask, an extremely rare sculpture by Henry Moore (1898-1986), sold for £3,248,750 at Bonhams Modern British and Irish Art sale in London today, Wednesday 14 November. Estimated at £1,000,000-1,500,000, it was being offered for sale for the first time for more than 80 years, and had never before appeared at auction. It is the most valuable 1920s sculpture by a British artist sold at auction. The 84-lot sale made a total of £5,456,875. Bonhams Director of Modern British and Irish Art, Matthew Bradbury said, This is an excellent result for arguably the most visually appealing and beautiful example from the Mask series that Moore executed between 1924 and 1930. With three determined bidders in the room and on the phone, it was among the most closely fought contests I can remember a tribute to the exceptional quality of the piece, and to the great demand for Moores carved
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