London A scale model of The Angel of the North has broken records by selling at auction for more than £2 million. The 6ft 6in version of Antony Gormley’s 65ft original was one of five that he created from a cast of his own body.

It had been expected to fetch £800,000 but sold at Sotheby’s on Tuesday to an anonymous buyer who paid £2.28 million. Gormley received a royalty fee of just under £10,000 from the sale.

The Angel of the North design was chosen by Gateshead Council from a shortlist of international artists in 1994. It took four years to build and install beside the A1 and has its tenth anniversary this year. It has a wingspan of 177ft (54m) - wider than a Boeing 767’s - compared with 16ft for the small statue.

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