Risley Park Lanx

The Risley Park Lanx is a large Roman silver dish (or lanx) that was discovered in 1729 in Risley Park, Derbyshire, and was later lost from view. In Roman times, a lanx was generally a large serving platter, about 15 by 20 inches in size.[1] Particularly ornamented ones were used to make offerings or sacrifices.[2] The inscription on the Risley Park Lanx suggests it was used as "church plate".[3]

Subsequently, lost, the Risley Park Lanx re-emerged in the 1990s, as a supposed heirloom of the now-notorious art forger Shaun Greenhalgh and his family. Bought by private buyers and donated to the British Museum, it was on display for several years, but was removed when its authenticity became suspect. It was later determined to be a complete fabrication. The fate of the original, genuine, Risley Park Lanx is unknown.[4]

  1. ^ Lysons, Daniel; Lysons, Samuel (1817). "Antiquities: British and Roman". Magna Britannia Volume 5. pp. CCIII-CCXVIII. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
  2. ^ Dunlop, John Colin (1827). History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Periods to the Augustan Age. Eve Littel. New York. p. 233.
  3. ^ Johns, Catherine; Painter, Kenneth (1991). "The Risley Park Lanx 'rediscovered'". Minerva 2(6). pp. 6–13.
  4. ^ "The artful codgers: pensioners who conned British museums with £10m forgeries". London Evening Standard. 16 November 2007.