Billies and Charlies.

In the late 19th century, two London dockworkers, called William (Billy) Smith and Charles (Charlie) Eaton, made crude lead forgeries of 800-year-old Medieval objects. The wrote the date '1021' on one of the forgeries in Arabic numerals, so that collectors would think it was very old and want to buy it. However, writing the date in Arabic numerals revealed that the objects were forgeries because in the Middle Ages people dated events to the year of the reign of a particular king. A number of collectors and museums bought what are now known as 'Billies and Charlies' in belief that they were pieces of Medieval archaeology.

This is a hollow lead figure on a square base. Probably a bishop, wearing a long decorated gown. Both arms are raised above the head, holding an inscription. A "Billy and Charlie" fake.