A sculpture by world-renowned artist Henry Moore has sold for £26m at auction – £11m more than the sum it was expected to fetch.
King and Queen has been in a private British collection since it was bought from Moore’s studio in 1953 and it went on sale at Christie’s auction house on Thursday evening.
Moore was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire, and studied at Leeds School of Art alongside Wakefield sculptor Barbara Hepworth.
Philip Harley, senior director in Modern British and Irish Art at Christie’s, previously said the bronze was “undisputedly a masterpiece” and that it was “an incredible moment” to be able to offer it at auction.