Fairfax House hosted a VIP reception to thank sponsors, supporters and well-wishers for their contributions to its successful fundraising appeal which saved a rare 17th century sculpture for the UK.

The wooden sculpture by the acknowledged ‘Michelangelo of Wood’, Grinling Gibbons, depicts King David playing a harp and surrounded by dancing cherubs and is now on permanent public display for the first time in its history at the famous Georgian townhouse.

After raising £250,000 to buy the panel (£100,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (Yorkshire), with a further £100,000 from the Art Fund, £41,500 from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund and £5,000 from the Friends of Fairfax House), the museum successfully raised the balance of just over £50,000 through a public appeal.