Amsterdam to host Hirst's skull

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - British artist Damien Hirst's human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds will go on show at an Amsterdam museum in November.

The artwork named "For the Love of God" was unveiled last year at London's White Cube gallery and later sold to an anonymous investment group.

The skull fetched $100 million, but it was a private transaction and the fact that Hirst was part of the group of investors who bought it raised questions about its true value.

Encased in a layer of platinum and covered with diamonds, the skull will be exhibited at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum for six weeks starting on November 1 before embarking on a world tour, the museum said.

Hirst, whose other works include animals presented in vitrines and a cow pickled in formaldehyde, is also putting up for auction new works of art at Sotheby's next month.

(Reporting by Aaron Gray-Block; Editing by Giles Elgood)