Bolton & Quinn via Bloomberg News
“For the Love of God”, Damien Hirst’s skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds and priced at $99 million, was reported as sold for $100 million to an investment group according to an article on Bloomberg.com. In an interview on June 2, 2007, Hirst revealed that “someone” was “very interested” in purchasing the skull and speculated that it could be sold within a few weeks.
Almost two months later, Hirst’s business manager Frank Dunphy says that the 1106.18-carat piece has been purchased and the deal will close within three to four weeks. Dunphy did disclose that the investors were not given a discount, which is customary for such high price points, that it would be paid in cash over an undisclosed period of time, and that “the deal was incredibly difficult to negotiate”. The deal includes an agreement to allow the skull to travel for museum exhibitions for the next two to three years.
However, the mystery surrounding the sale seems to be fueling rumors that the buyer is Hirst himself and the story of the “investors” a simply a cover-up.
It wouldn’t be the first time he has bought his own work. In 2003, Hirst and his dealer Jay Joplin purchased back about 15 of his early works from Charles Saatchi, one of his biggest and most prolific collectors. Taking back possession of his own work helped Hirst control how and where it would be exhibited.
With so many collectors who viewed the skull and passed, is it possible that Hirst did indeed purchase it himself to legitimize the highly criticized work, for its materials as well as the price tag? Given the hazy details of the transaction, speculation will most likely continue until the identities of the investors are revealed.–>–>–>–>–>–>For The Love Of God, Damien Hirst Sold The Skull [TheWorldsBestEver]
Hirst Sells Skull for $100 Million, Manager Says [Bloomberg]
Hirst Says $100 Million Priced Skull is ‘Right’ [Bloomberg]
Hirst Buys His Art Back From Saatchi [Guardian UK]
[TheWorldsBestEver] [Bloomberg] [Bloomberg] [Guardian UK]
