Cast of Rodin's 'The Kiss' sells for record 2.2m euros

A bronze cast of Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture "The Kiss" sold for 2.2 million euros ($2.4 million) to an American collector at an auction in Paris on Tuesday.

Auction house Binoche et Giquello said the 85-centimetre model, produced in 1927, had beaten pre-sale estimates and set a record for a model made after the French sculptor's death.

Four other works also went under the hammer from the collection of Jean de Ruaz, all of which were featured in a 1946 exhibition of Rodin's most admired bronzes.

Auctioneer Alexandre Giquello looks at the sculpture "Le Baiser" (the Kiss), bronze cast made in 1927, which is part of an exceptional sale of five remarkable bronzes by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), displayed in Paris, France, February 11, 2016. Photo: Reuters

The American collector, who bid by phone, also bought another cast of a Rodin statue called "Eternal Spring" for almost 700,000 euros ($780,000).

The three other bronzes were also sold for more than double their estimates. All were made by Eugene Rudier, son of Alexis Rudier, who was Rodin's favourite caster.

"The Kiss" is Rodin's most famous sculpture, which has been cast 27 times since he first created it in 1885.

The 1.8 metre (six foot) high white marble version is in the Musee Rodin in Paris.