Sale of Invergordon’s Bouchard Bust looks set to proceed after Highland Council report recommends councillors approve move
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A multi-million pound sculpture belonging to Invergordon looks set to be sold off.
Highland Council's Black Isle and Easter Ross area committee will next week be asked to recommend the famous Bouchardon Bust be sold by way of a private sale and that a "museum quality replica" be commissioned for public display in the community.
Public consultation on bust sale proposal
Flurry of ideas over bust sale - what are they?
The bust, which depicts Sir John Gordon - after whom Invergordon is named - was created by celebrated 18th century sculptor Edmé Bouchardon.
It was bought by Invergordon Town Council in 1930 for £5, with the intention to one day place it in the Town Hall for public display.
But this never happened and, in the following decades, it disappeared before being rediscovered propping open a shed door on a Balintore Industrial Estate by Cllr Maxine Smith in 1998.
Today, estimates value the bust at more than £2.5 million, and this high cost has made it difficult to secure the insurance necessary for it to put it on public display - prompting recent moves to sell it and raise funds for the community.
Recommendations for its possible sale, which would require councillor approval and would then likely go before a full meeting of Highland Council for a final green light, will be discussed when the area committee meets on Monday.
Any potential sale comes amid a mixed response to the proposed sale in the community.
A public consultation drew a wide array of responses, with a majority (71 per cent) in favour of its sale, and 28 per cent opposed.
However, the report set to go before councillors also noted that two local community councils (Invergordon, and Saltburn & Westwood) and the Invergordon Development Trust provided "lengthy and detailed reasons for their opposition to the proposal".
Making the case for the sale of the bust, the report before councillors notes: "Invergordon Common Good fund has little in the way of income generating assets and does not have an active community grants budget.
"The capital receipt from the sale of the bust would rejuvenate the fund by providing investment opportunities which would generate income that could then be used for community benefit."
The report adds: "Some comments received during the consultation process suggest the sale of the bust poses a risk by diminishing the cultural and historical benefits to Invergordon.
"Whilst these views are noted, it is suggested that such risks are mitigated by the intention to obtain a museum quality replica that could be publicly displayed.
"The bust is not currently on public display due to insurance and security concerns."
Members of the public who backed its sale during the consultation argued that it couldn't be securely displayed and should be sold to provide money for Invergordon Common Good. Other common arguments included that the money raised should be used in "long term" community projects", with some suggesting work to renovate the town, create tourism, restore the Town Hall etc.
Others cited making a replica which could go on public show.
Those opposed meanwhile argued the consultation was not sufficiently detailed, moves to sell the bust relied too heavily on auction house Sotheby's for expert advice, and added that other options not to sell should have been more fully explored.
They also raised concerns over how money raised from the sale will be safeguarded and used.
Responding to some of the issues raised, the council said it had enjoyed “a professional, trusted relationship with Sotheby’s for in the region of 40 years”, adding that the private buyer interested it the sale got in touch with Sotheby’s and the auction house “did not actively seek out the proposed purchaser”.
Addressing arguments that not enough consideration has been given to displaying the bust locally, the council responded: "Guidance from the council’s Insurers and Museum’s team has consistently stated that security and insurance issues make local display impractical. This is not a practical option that can be explored."
Recommending the sale proceed, the report concludes: “Taking into account the representations received, balancing the nature of the issues raised and considering the benefit to the local community which could be achieved from the investment potential opportunities, it is recommended that Members of the Black Isle and Easter Ross area committee recommend to full council to agree that the proposal to dispose by sale should go ahead.”
