A statue of legendary outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor, bought from a scrapyard for (pounds) 50 just over 30 years ago, was sold at auction yesterday for more than (pounds) 45,000.
The 7ft marble carving of one of Scotland's most celebrated figures had been expected to fetch (pounds) 20,000 to (pounds) 30,000, but sold for (pounds) 45,150, including buyer's commission.
The piece was produced in 1884 by Scots artist Thomas Stuart Burnett and displayed at the Royal Academy in 1885.
It was commissioned by John Aird, an MP, who installed it at his home in London's Hyde Park.
The statue remained in London until it was found in a scrapyard about 30 years ago and it was placed in the garden of a Scottish country house.
A spokeswoman for Bonhams in Edinburgh, where the work was sold, said the piece was set to remain north of the border.
She said: ''It was found 30 years ago in a scrapyard in London. The person who sold it today, paid (pounds) 50 for it and brought it up to Scotland. It's just gone for (pounds) 45,150 today to a private buyer in Scotland who wishes to remain anonymous.''
Rob Roy's legend has been made into a Hollywood film starring Liam Neeson, but it was Sir Walter Scott's novel that made him a romantic hero.
Born in the Trossachs in 1670, Rob Roy was just 18 when he fought alongside his father in support of the Stuart succession to the throne.
He later became a cattle trader, but was outlawed following an ill-fated business deal with the Marquis of Montrose, who charged him and his supporters with theft and seized his land. Rob Roy fought with the Jacobites during the uprising in 1715, but after its failure he was again an outlaw. He was captured twice and escaped, before finally surrendering to General Wade in 1725. He was eventually pardoned by the king.
One of the first books to introduce and describe the game of golf more than 200 years ago was sold for (pounds) 20,180 to a private buyer, based in Scotland, at the same sale. The Goff - using the old Scots spelling - was published in the mid-eighteenth century in Edinburgh and a third edition from 1793 went under the hammer yesterday.
Share