A small marble sculpture a family had kept on their piano for years, believing it to be a copy, has been confirmed as an authentic work by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The piece, called "Despair", sold at auction in France on Monday for €860,000 (£725,000; $982,000). The 28.5cm (11 inches) figure dates from 1892 and had disappeared after a sale in 1906. The Comité Rodin confirmed its authenticity following a six-week probe. Auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac described it as an "extremely rare" find and told the AFP news agency: "We have rediscovered it."
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