The works — one thought to depict St Barbara, the other believed to show Christ or St Sebastian — were uncovered by Irita Marriott Auctioneers & Valuers during a house clearance in the city. The find was captured on camera for the new series of The Derbyshire Auction House, which airs on the Really channel and Discovery+.
Auctioneer Irita Marriott said the seller had no idea the paintings were in the property.
“When I brought the pictures down from the attic and showed them to the seller they said, ‘They’re not mine, I’ve never seen them before!’ They had no idea they even existed. We’ve put a conservative auction estimate on them but we think they could be something really special. We’ve had a lot of interest, so anything could happen on the day.”
Experts believe the portraits were originally part of larger artworks but were cut down and mounted on canvas at some point in their history.
The paintings will be offered as lots 816 and 817 in Irita Marriott’s September auction on Thursday 11 September at the Melbourne Assembly Rooms in Derbyshire, with bidding also available online.
From attic to auction block — and TV screens
The Derbyshire Auction House follows antiques dealer and auctioneer Irita Marriott as she hunts for hidden treasures in homes, lofts and garages across the UK, before selling them at her South Derbyshire saleroom. The series offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at the drama, excitement and human stories of the auction world, with finds ranging from rare porcelain and vintage football shirts to gold coins and historic memorabilia.
The Swansea discovery will feature in the show’s latest run, which airs Mondays at 9 pm on Really, with catch‑up available on Discovery+.
More details about the auction, including how to register to bid, are available at iritamarriottauctioneers.co.uk.
