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It sold to a private Asian collector for 13.26 million pounds (19.17 million dollars, 14.70 million euros) at auction in the British capital, including buyer's premium, beating its guide price of between nine and 12 million pounds.
The sculpture, known as "Little Dancer" in English, was cast in bronze in 1922. It shows the young girl, wearing a skirt made of muslin and a satin hair ribbon, posing with her hands behind her back and a foot forward.
Helena Newman, vice chairman of Impressionist and modern art at Sotheby's, said the sculpture was the most important by Degas and "undoubtedly one of the most iconic sculptures of the Impressionist period."
"The record-breaking price achieved for this exceptional sculpture tonight is a testament to the strength of the market for rare works of exceptional quality," she said.
The previous auction record for a Degas sculpture was 12.3 million dollars (7.5 million pounds), set at Sotheby's in New York in November 1999. A Degas pastel, "Danseuse au repos", sold there in November for 37 million dollars.
The sculpture was sold Tuesday by John Madejski, one of Britain's leading arts philanthropists. The price has more than doubled since it was last put up for auction in 2004, when it fetched five million pounds, Sotheby's said.
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Image of a bronze cast sculpture entitled 'Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans' by French artist Edgar Degas displayed at Sotheby's auction house in London, January 2009; by Carl de Souza.
The sculpture, known as "Little Dancer" in English, was cast in bronze in 1922. It shows the young girl, wearing a skirt made of muslin and a satin hair ribbon, posing with her hands behind her back and a foot forward.
Helena Newman, vice chairman of Impressionist and modern art at Sotheby's, said the sculpture was the most important by Degas and "undoubtedly one of the most iconic sculptures of the Impressionist period."
"The record-breaking price achieved for this exceptional sculpture tonight is a testament to the strength of the market for rare works of exceptional quality," she said.
The previous auction record for a Degas sculpture was 12.3 million dollars (7.5 million pounds), set at Sotheby's in New York in November 1999. A Degas pastel, "Danseuse au repos", sold there in November for 37 million dollars.
The sculpture was sold Tuesday by John Madejski, one of Britain's leading arts philanthropists. The price has more than doubled since it was last put up for auction in 2004, when it fetched five million pounds, Sotheby's said.
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Image of a bronze cast sculpture entitled 'Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans' by French artist Edgar Degas displayed at Sotheby's auction house in London, January 2009; by Carl de Souza.
