Eyeblog

Angel of the North Model Makes Antiques Roadshow’s First £1m Valuation

Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North hit the headlines earlier this month when a model version of the piece became the first item to be valued at £1 million on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

The valuation means that the maquette, which is one in an edition of 5 and stands at 1.8m high and 5m wide, is worth more than Gateshead council and the National Lottery paid for the actual statue and is worth three times more than any other item discovered on the television program.

The model, one of several created by Gormley to encourage the council to commission the piece, was brought to the show by a councillor whose father worked in the coal mine on the site where the full-size statue stands. Philip Mould, the London art dealer, examined the piece before filming began at The Sage in Gateshead, then after hesitating a little to create suspense, made the dramatic valuation on air, leaving Mr McElroy stunned.

Mould then went on to explain his reasons for valuing the piece so high, mentioning that another, much larger maquette recently sold for around £2 million. “So I think, on the basis that this is half the size, I would comfortably value it at £1 million,” he said. “Amazing, absolutely amazing,” replied McElroy finally after a long pause.

The piece, thought to be owned by Gateshead council, was discovered during the filming of the roadshow at the Sage centre in Gateshead in September this year. It had apparently been sitting on a shelf in council offices for 13 years before being boxed up and transported to the show.

The full-size Angel of the North, which is permanently situated near the A1 outside Gateshead, is one of the most viewed works of public art in the world. Despite initial resistance from some residents, who objected to its size, cost and position next to a main road, the steel statue was unveiled in February 1998.

Series editor Simon Shaw described the event as “one of the most exciting moments that we’ve ever had on the roadshow; this will undoubtedly become a favourite moment with viewers.”

The show’s previous record valuation was in 2006 when a mayoral silver collection, which included two chalices made during the reign of Charles II, was said to be worth around £300,000.

Click here to see Paul St George’s Minumental Angel of the North.

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