London - A solid gold sculpture of British top model Kate Moss went on public display in the august surroundings of the British Museum in London Thursday alongside statues of ancient Greek beauties and works of modern art. The 50-kilogram-statue, entitled Siren, was created by contemporary British artist Marc Quinn and is believed to be the largest gold statue made since the time of ancient Egypt.
The work, worth 1.5 million pounds (2.7 million dollars) is one of several contemporary sculptures in the exhibition Statuephilia, which is spread throughout the different galleries of the museum and placed among items from its permanent collection.
Described by the museum as an "Aphrodite of our times", the golden Moss can be admired in the museum's Nereid Gallery, alongside its statues of famous Greek beauties.
Moss, 34, has been at the top of the international fashion business since she was spotted by a London model agency at the age of 14.
"I thought the next thing to do would be to make a sculpture of the person who's the ideal beauty of the moment. But even Kate Moss doesn't live up to the image," Quinn said of his creation Thursday.
