Ex-prisoners' art auctioned in Isle of Man - 12/03/2010

An interesting collection of contemporary art is being auctioned in the Isle of Man later today (March 12th).

Chrystals Auctions is selling the entire contents of the Isle of Man prison, with both collectors and former inmates able to get their hands on some of the building's relics, isleofman.com reports.

Among the items being auctioned are works of art by prisoners, including a scale matchstick model of Big Ben.

Other pieces of history going up for sale include board beds from the old isolation cells and the prison's greenhouse, which doubled up as its education centre.

Auction attendees will also have the chance to bid on Victorian prison cell doors and old security cameras.

Among the other works of prisoners' art going under the hammer is a Velmend Devil oil painting, a set of five terracotta skulls and a watercolour entitled Emancipation.

Prisoners also made a matchstick model of a biplane, a rose-decorated papier mache box and a schloss etching.