London, April 2 (Inditop.com) A replica of Roman mosaic, featuring 1.6 million tiny pieces, is expected to sell for up to 25,000 pounds at an auction in June, auctioneers said.
The Orpheus pavement, which dates back to 325 A.D. and was discovered in Woodchester, Gloucestershire, is the largest mosaic found in Britain so far. And it took 10 years to reconstruct its replica.
Bob and John Woodward, who are brothers, allowed photographers to snap their masterpiece Thursday before it is due to go under the hammer June 24, telegraph.co.uk reported.
The work is currently on display at Prinknash Abbey, near Stroud, but the lease has come to an end and its owner, who does not wish to be identified, decided to sell it.
Iona Sale, who is publicising the event for auctioneers Chorley’s, said it had been challenging putting an estimated price on the mosaic because no one had ever attempted such a feat before.
“We have had a lot of interest in the mosaic already. A guesstimate is that it will sell for approximately 15,000 to 25,000 pounds. But it’s so hard to determine what it will sell for because it’s such a one-off,” she said.
Anyone who wants the giant creation will need 2,200 square feet of room to show it off.
The Roman villa at Woodchester, near Stroud, is thought to have belonged to someone of huge wealth and influence. Of its 60 rooms, 20 had mosaic floors including the large hall which contained the Orpheus pavement featuring a prominent figure of Greek mythology.
