London
The Victoria and Albert Museum has bought an important Art Deco sculpture by Charles Sargeant Jagger, entitled Scandal (detail, right). The bronze relief, dating from 1930, was inspired by the 1777 play by Richard Sheridan, “The School for Scandal”. It was put up for sale by the estate of interior designer Robin Roberts, the owner of the New York textile company Clarence House. The Jagger sold at Sotheby’s, New York on 18 December, fetching $157,000 (£78,000). Support was provided by the Art Fund (£31,000) and the National Heritage Memorial Fund (£22,000). The V&A already owns a companion piece, Jagger’s Melchett fire basket, bought in 2005 for £66,000 ($35,000). Both sculptures had been commissioned for Mulberry House, the London home of Lord Melchett.
Correction
In our last issue, we mistakenly reported that the V&A bought Charles Sargeant Jagger’s The Scandal from Sotheby’s (p18). In fact, the work was acquired from Christie’s.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Jagger Scandal at V&A'