An unusual piece of Lucian Freud art has sold for £22,000 at Bloomsbury Auction’s 20th Century British Art sale on the 21st June. The Self Portrait oil and ink wash on a hen’s egg was painted in 1979 and was produced at the request of the Langton Gallery, London, for an Easter themed exhibition called Eggs which opened in 1979.

As well as Freud, the artists contributing work included Peter Blake, Heathcote Williams, Bert Kitchen and John Glashan. A highly unusual medium for the artist to work on, it is quite possible that this is Freud’s only 3-Dimensional work. A note from the artist to the present owner regarding the work, as well as the original invitation to the Langton Gallery exhibition was included within this lot

The egg has an overall size 60 mm (2 3/8 in)