The Egyptian government is hoping to repatriate the sculpture, which was sold by Christie’s auction house for £4.7 million last week.

It has said the sale of the 3,000-year-old quartzite bust is “inconsistent with relevant international treaties and conventions”.

Egyptian experts have said the bust was likely stolen from the Temple of Karnak in the 1970s.

However, Christie’s has maintained that it “carried out extensive due diligence” and established clear ownership and provenance.

The Egyptian government will instruct a UK law firm to file a civil suit against the auction house, the BBC reports.