More than 100 so-called modern art classics representing some of the cream of the "Britart" movement of celebrated modern conceptual artists have been destroyed in a warehouse fire in London, local media reported Wednesday.  

The works, including some owned by British modern art collector Charles Saatchi, were burned in the fire at the warehouse of art storage firm Momart in Leyton, east London.

A spokesman for Saatchi said the cost was likely to run into millions of pounds.

He confirmed that works by Tracey Emin -- including the tent called "Everyone I have ever slept with 1963-95" and her piece known as "The Hut" -- and pieces by Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Gary Hume, Patrick Caulfield, Craigie Horsfield and Martin Maloney were lost in the fire.

He added that "Hell", by brothers Jake and Dinos Chapman, who were on the short list for the Turner Prize last year, may also have perished. Saatchi reportedly paid 500,000 pounds (about US$906,000) for "Hell," which he displayed at his gallery on the south bank of the Thames River.

Momart's director Carole Hastings said the warehouse was now "non-existent, but is it art?"

Momart's clients also include the National Galley, the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Buckingham Palace. The destroyed warehouse makes up five to ten percent of the company's storage capacity.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2004)