Bust sells for sale topping £96K
(Artdaily.org)

Sworders’ Fine Interiors auction in Stansted Mountfitchet on September 10-11 generated moments of good old fashioned saleroom drama. Topping the price list at a surprise £96,000 was an Italian marble bust of an emperor that had attracted ten phone bidders. The 52cm bust had many signs of repair but was of obvious quality. The bust came from Glenthorne House which once belonged to the Halliday family in Devon. It is possible that this bust, and another 18th century marble bust of Socrates sold at £21,000, were in the house since the 19th century. Before the sale many different opinions regarding the date of the bust were voiced, ranging from 17th century ‘after the antique’ to Roman or ancient Greek. The buyer, who travelled to Sworders to bid in person, believed it was the head of the Greek god