A HISTORIC home in York hosted a reception after a rare 17th Century sculpture was saved.

Fairfax House held the VIP event on Friday, after £250,000 was raised to buy a panel created by Grinling Gibbons, depicting King David playing a harp and surrounded by dancing cherubs.

The panel, which was also supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Art Fund, the V&A Purchase Grant Fund as well as the Friends of Fairfax House, is now on permanent public display for the first time in its history at the Georgian townhouse.

Hannah Phillip, director at Fairfax House said: “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to save an immensely rare piece of British history from international export and sale."