On 4 December 2013, a medieval ivory sculpture of the Virgin and Child, once owned by Syon Abbey, went up for sale at Sotheby’s Auction House. Erik Bijzet, the head of Sotheby auction sales for European Sculpture and Works of Art, worked to uncover the sculpture’s connection to Syon, and he continues to research a group of medieval objects associated with the Syon nuns’ ninteenth-century return to England.
For the full description and listing with many photographs, see the Sotheby’s page here.
The sculpture’s story went primetime and was even written up in The Guardian: read the article here.
It sold for 2.5 million GBP – over twice the high estimate. Now it is in the hands of a private owner. Unfortunately it does not seem as though it will be on public view any time soon, though it will remain in London. Proceeds went to charity.
The Syon Abbey Society 