Miniature sculpture gifted by Barbara Hepworth to doctor to be auctioned
The 13-inch aluminium-and-string study for the Winged Figure could fetch up to £80,000 in Cornwall.
A 13-inch aluminium-and-string sculpture model gifted by British sculptor Barbara Hepworth to her doctor has resurfaced for auction in Cornwall. According to the Times of India, the miniature version of her famous Winged Figure could fetch as much as £80,000.
The artwork is a study for the monumental sculpture that stands on the exterior of the John Lewis department store on Oxford Street, London. This specific piece, numbered 5/9 and signed and dated 1967, was originally given to Dr Roger Slack as a personal token of appreciation.
Dr Slack, a general practitioner who arrived in St Ives in 1947, developed a friendship with Hepworth that extended beyond their medical relationship. The sculpture serves as a personal reminder of the bond they shared over years of mutual interest.
The miniature belongs to an edition of only nine works. Its value is attributed to Hepworth's influence as a modern sculptor and the piece's direct connection to her well-known public commission in London.
Lay's Auctioneers has listed the item for its Cornish Art sale. The sculpture will be offered for bidding on November 26 and 27, 2026.