Moore's King & Queen Sells for £26M

0:00On March 15th, a famous sculpture from Southern Scotland's countryside has just sold for 26 million pounds at auction. Its Henry Moors king and queen, one of the stars of the old Glenkillin sculpture park in Dumfries and Galloway. Created in the mid-20th century, the park placed modern artworks like this bronze pair of mid-wild moors and hills for visitors to enjoy on walks. The park came together between 1951 and 1976. Thanks to landowners, Sir William Keswick. It featured four pieces by Moore, plus works from Rodan and Epstein, all set in natural spots instead of museums. King and Queen drew crowds with its striking pose overlooking a reservoir, becoming a landmark for hikers and art lovers. But trouble hit in 1995 when vandals decapitated the figures. The heads were recovered and reattached with expert care. Yet the piece was pulled from view years later. Then in 2013, another theft of a seven foot statue sealed the park spate, with the rest moved to secure storage.

1:02Last week, Christie's auctioned this unique cast of King and Queen, far exceeding the 15 million pound estimate. It's the last edition in private hands, while others sit in museums across Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, and Britain. The sale highlights its enduring poll despite the drama. Today, the Glenkill Loop stays popular for cyclists, echoing memories of those open air giants against the Scottish sky.