Egyptian sculpture from garden sells for $118,000

Egyptian sculpture from garden sells for $118,000

CLEVELAND — A bronze Egyptian sculpture from a Cleveland man’s garden that he almost let an antique dealer take for $3,000 a few years ago has sold at auction for $118,000.

The 4-foot-tall sculpture of a woman carrying a water vessel on her head was in the yard when the man bought his house 40 years ago. Research determined that the piece was created in 1931 by Egyptian sculptor Mahmoud Mokhtar, whose works are the subject of an entire museum in Cairo.

The auction house sold it Oct. 25 for $100,000, plus an $18,000 auctioneer’s commission. The seller and buyer asked to remain anonymous.

Flu and E. coli infection sideline Elton John

LONDON — Elton John’s spokesman says the singer has been hospitalized after suffering from a case of E. coli bacterial infection and the flu.

Gary Farrow said Monday that the pop star hopes to be released soon but has been forced to cancel concerts in England, Ireland and the United States.

John, 62, intends to rejoin the “Face2Face” tour later in the month when he and Billy Joel play concerts in northern California.

Polanski lawyer submits new bail offer to court

PARIS — A French lawyer for Roman Polanski says he has submitted a new bail offer to a Swiss court to try to free the filmmaker from jail.

Lawyer Herve Temime says the offer Monday includes “adequate guarantees” that Polanski will not flee justice if released. The 76-year-old director is awaiting a decision on extradition to the United States.

Switzerland’s Justice Ministry rejected a bail offer Friday, considering Polanski a high flight risk. They noted it was not a cash offer.

Temime said Sunday the new offer would include a “very, very significant” cash amount, but on Monday, he gave no further details.

Polanski, arrested Sept. 26, is wanted in the U.S. for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Polanski fled the U.S. before sentencing.

Gibson, girlfriend have a girl, Gibson’s 8th child

LOS ANGELES — Mel Gibson and his girlfriend are welcoming the birth of the couple’s first child — making the Oscar-winner a father for the eighth time. Gibson’s publicist Alan Nierob said Monday that Oksana Grigorieva gave birth to a baby girl named Lucia on Friday at a hospital in Los Angeles.

Gibson has seven children with his ex-wife, Robyn.

The 53-year-old “Braveheart” star met Grigorieva, a 39-year-old Russian musician, while filming “Edge of Reason.”

Today’s birthdays

Composer John Barry is 76. Actor-dancer Ken Berry (“Mayberry R.F.D.”; “Mama’s Family”) is 76. Actor-radio personality Shadoe Stevens is 63. Singer Lulu is 61. Actress-comedian Roseanne Barr is 57. Actress Kathy Kinney (“The Drew Carey Show”) is 56. Actress Kate Capshaw is 56. Comedian Dennis Miller is 56. Singer Adam Ant is 55. Actor Dolph Lundgren (“Rocky IV”) is 52.