A rare and historically significant bronze model, which served as the first complete design for the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in London's Tavistock Square, is expected to sell for thousands of pounds at auction this week.
The Historic Maquette
The miniature stands at just 27 centimetres (10.6 inches) tall and is crafted from bronze. It represents the original vision for the full-sized monument that has been a fixture in Tavistock Square, Camden, since 1968. Auction house Woolley and Wallis, which is handling the sale, has given the piece an official estimate of £6,000 to £8,000. However, specialists suggest competitive bidding could drive the final price significantly higher.
The Artist and Past Sales
The creator of both the statue and its preparatory models was the Polish sculptor Fredda Brilliant. Victor Fauvelle, a specialist at Woolley and Wallis, noted her "growing reputation" in the art world. This reputation is reflected in previous auction results; in a 2019 sale of items from Brilliant's studio, a second model of the Indian independence leader was purchased by a private collector for a striking £65,000.
"Given Fredda’s growing reputation and the fierce bidding we’ve seen for her Gandhi works in the past, the emergence of this first maquette from a private London collection is significant," Mr Fauvelle stated. He added that it presents collectors with an "exceptional chance to secure the piece that set one of Fredda’s most internationally recognised monuments in motion."
Auction Details and Significance
This first model, or maquette, will be offered to the public as part of Woolley and Wallis's modern British and 20th-century art sale on Thursday, 5 December 2025. Its journey to the auction block highlights the enduring cultural and historical value attached to works connected to major public monuments. The sale offers a unique opportunity to own a tangible piece of the creative process behind one of central London's most iconic tributes to the leader of the Indian nationalist movement.
