“I call it an act of loyalty,” he said unrepentantly after a melee where he was challenged by republicans. “I was protecting my sovereign’s dignity.”

“It’s not a light issue. I think it is a disgrace that somebody could ridicule the sovereign lady the Queen this way.”

At his Melbourne studio, Mr Taylor, however, remained defiant but saddened by what he called an attack on his freedom of expression.

“Do they want to take my sketchbooks and burn them and make a proper job of it?” he asked.

“I always thought Australia was renowned for its tolerance. It is a really sad indictment on some aspects of conservative thinking in Australia.”

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Mr Taylor took nearly three months to finish the work and since he exhibited the sculpture at his own risk he will not recover any insurance. It will, however, remain in Canberra until the end of the month as part of the National Sculpture Forum, despite a call by the leader of the National Party, Mr Fischer, for its removal. “It’s a case of the wrong place and the wrong piece of art,” he said.

Last night the head and the culprit still had not been found.