Kate Moss gold statue unveiled at British Museum

A lifesize gold statue of Kate Moss as a "modern-day Aphrodite" with her legs tucked behind her head has been unveiled at the British Museum.

Siren is made entirely of 18 carat gold and will be displayed in the museum's Nereid Gallery among statues of Greek goddesses including Aphrodite.



It is the largest gold statue made by man since ancient Egyptian times, weighing 50kg, around the same as its subject.

Artist Marc Quinn, whose previous works include the sculpture of a pregnant woman with no arms or legs that now sits on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, said Siren cost £1.5m to make, £1m of which was the price of the gold.



He expects it to fetch up to £10m when it is sold following its time with the British Museum in January.

Speaking at the unveiling, Mr Quinn said he saw Miss Moss, who posed for him for a day though not in the position of the statue, as a "modern day Aphrodite".