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Collector uncovers Scottish king’s chest

Collector uncovers Scottish king’s chest

Every antique dealer dreams of that Del Boy moment – uncovering an unwanted gem that someone mistook for junk.

And while Aidan Harrison’s surprise discovery is unlikely to earn him millions like TV’s original wheeler dealer, experts believe he has unearthed the Royal treasure that changed the United Kingdom forever.

When the amateur furniture collector stumbled across a small oak chest, he had no idea that it symbolised one of the most pivotal moments of British history.

However, similar carvings found in the north-east led him to experts at Aberdeen University, where it was confirmed that Mr Harrison had found the marriage chest of Scottish King James IV and Margaret Tudor, the daughter of the English King Henry VII.

The marriage brought temporary peace between Scotland and England – and last night the university’s art historian, Jane Geddes, said the find was “remarkable”.

“Aidan came to me and said ‘I think I’ve got something rather exciting here’ – and he most certainly did,” she said.

“The carving and woodwork strongly point towards its’ creation for the wedding of King James IV and Margaret.

“A wooden chest was one of the most important items of medieval furniture, because aristocratic families spent so much time travelling with pack-horses all around the country to their various homes.

“All the royal bride’s personal items would be kept in a chest like this.

“It is remarkable that it has survived for so long before its significance was fully appreciated.”

The marriage of the Thistle and Rose took place at Holyrood on August 8, 1503 – and was a hugely significant event that joined the ruling families of Scotland and England, the Stewarts and the Tudors.

Ms Geddes said the chest also holds great significance for Aberdeen, as the university’s founder, Bishop Elphinstone, led the diplomacy which resulted in the marriage.

She added: “Both the chest and King’s College Chapel stalls were made at the same time. Thistles and roses are found all over the stalls, also celebrating this marriage. The coats of arms of James IV and Margaret are the two principal carvings on the west front of the chapel.

“Were it not for the work of Bishop Elphinstone in brokering the marriage, the houses of Tudor and Stewart may never have come together.

“Elphinstone wanted to create a lasting peace between Scotland and England and although this wasn’t to happen, it was their great-grandson King James VI of Scotland who eventually took the English throne as James I of England when Queen Elizabeth died. The two nations have shared a monarch ever since.”

The marriage chest will be on display in the Craig Suite of the Sir Duncan Rice Library at the university, together with the facsimile of the Book of Hours and it is hoped it will soon go on public display in Scotland.