A wooden panel dating back to the era of Henry VIII has been sold for £185,000

The wooden panel was discovered in a house in Chichester in 2013 and is believed to depict King John.

The intricate carvings were initially bought by high-end specialist Paul Fitzsimmons, who was so taken with the carven that he immediately purchased it. The panel is a carved oak polychrome-decorated piece which was then sold on to an anonymous bidder for £184,900.

The piece has a striking similarity to similar panels in both the Victoria and Albert Museum and another in the Museum of London. Each of the panels show a regal figure which are surrounded by the same style of scroll and decoration. An initial school of thought points to them all being part of a single piece of interior decoration from the home of William Paulet, who was a central figure in the history of British policy. He was also unique as he managed to retain favour for the entirety of his life, a particular achievement as he spanned the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. His home in Hampshire was allegedly the largest and most decadent in England.

Image courtesy of SWNS