"I thought the next thing to do would be to make a sculpture of the person who's the ideal beauty of the moment," the BBC quoted artist Marc Quinn as saying of his Moss sculpture "Siren." "But even Kate Moss doesn't live up to the image."

The piece is to go on display with statues by other contemporary artists, including Damien Hirst and Antony Gormley, as part of the London museum's "Statuephilia" exhibition, the BBC said.

"The British Museum helped to make these artists what they are. Now they are seeking to return the favor," co-curator Waldemar Januszczak told the British broadcaster.