Gateshead won’t sell £1m Angel of the North model



Gateshead Council says it has no plans to sell an original model of Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North after it became the first £1m object to feature on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.



A spokesman for the council said the bronze maquette, which spans 3m and was the first Angel model made by Gormley, ‘belongs to the people of Gateshead’ and would remain on permanent display at the council’s offices.



The scale model, which featured on the show last night, was valued at £200 000 more than the real 20m-high Angel, which cost the council £800 000 to erect in 1998.



It was taken to the valuation at The Sage in Gateshead by councillor John McElroy and valued by art dealer Philip Mould.



Councillor Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council, says, ‘It was great to showcase the Angel at the Antiques Roadshow and have it valued by the experts there.



‘Obviously, we have it insured for a considerable sum, but because it belongs to the council we would never look to sell it. It’s also a unique piece because of the history of the sculpture.’

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