Royall Tyler to Mildred Barnes Bliss, April 23, 1936
Finance Ministry
Budapest
23.IV.36
Dearest Mildred.
I’ve received from Stora 4 photos. of a statuette in gold:BZ.1936.46. a bonhomme dressed in a shirt covered with apparently stamped crosses: Jesus when he was a little boy?
I’ve never in my life seen anything resembling it, but I confess I like it. As it weighs 1/2 a kilo, it must be very good to fondle. Stora doesn’t say what he wants for it. My impression is that it is all right—and I should think it might be Carolingian, though about that I’m not at all sure. I should much like to see it.
Stora has also sent me photos. of a Visigothic treasure,This treasure has not been identified. which contains nothing nearly as good as your pieces,In January 1936, the Blisses acquired a purportedly Visigothic hoard (BZ.1936.1–15) of the sixth century consisting of bronze-gilt and red and clear inlay fibulae, some in the form of eagles. These were acquired from Mildred Stapley Byne (1874–1941), the wife of the dealer and art scholar Arthur Byne (1884–1935), in Madrid in January 1936. These objects are now considered forgeries of the nineteenth or twentieth century. but some that aren’t bad. I wonder whether it can be the less striking things from the same find? I don’t think you would want this lot—and Stora talks about £2,500—avec une reduction.“With a reduction.”
It’s grievous to think that in a very few days you’ll be on the sea, and that such a long time threatens to elapse before I can see you again. Bill reaches Paris on the 26th, and I hope to see him soon afterwards, perhaps on my way to Geneva, and certainly after Geneva, when I plan to spend some days with him.
I’ve had letters from him, written since this thing had been discovered, that are full of spirit and good sense. Cabled news speak of gained weight and general progress.
Fondest love, dearest Mildred.