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Ceremonial bedhead made for the marriage of King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves, 1539 (oak)
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Ceremonial bedhead made for the marriage of King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves, 1539 (oak)
5890677 Ceremonial bedhead made for the marriage of King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves, 1539 (oak) by English School, (16th century); 83.9x195.6x11.4 cm; Burrell Collection, Glasgow, Scotland; (add.info.: This is the ceremonial bedhead made for the marriage of King Henry VIII to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. It is made of oak, with carved, painted and gilded decoration. The central panel has an inscription describing Henry as King of England and France, Lord of Ireland, and Head of the Church of England, and the date 1539'. The left-hand panel bears the Royal motto DIEU ET MON DROIT ('God and my Right'); the right-hand panel the AH monogram for Anne and Henry. Carved male and female figures, symbolic of fertility, indicate the prime motive for the marriage, the birth of a second male heir for Henry.
This is an extremely important artefact, as very few items of furniture from King Henry's reign have survived. Although the story of Henry's six wives is well known, this is a unique object, which documents a specific event in the sequence. Although their marriage did take place in January 1539 (according to the old-style Julian calendar, the equivalent of which would be 1540 in the Gregorian calendar adopted in England since 1752), Henry did not find Anne suitable as a wife, and the marriage was annulled.); © CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection; Gifted by Sir William and Lady Burrell to the City of Glasgow, 1944
Media ID 32178474
© © CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection Gifted by Sir William and Lady Burrell to the City of Glasgow, 1944 / Bridgeman Images
Alliance Anne Of Cleves Arabesques Artefact Artifact Divorce Divorced Fertility Gilded Gilt Henry Viii House Of Tudor Intimate Intricate Lineage Marital Microarchitecture Monogram Monogrammed Monograms Painted Panels Patterns Quatrefoil Regal Succession Tudor Dynasty Tudor Period Tudor Period 1485 1603 Tudor Times Tudors Dynasty Bedhead Beds Britisch Britisch Egnland Headboard Monarch Northern Renaissance Paneled Piece Of Furniture Social History Uk United Kingdom
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a remarkable piece of history - the ceremonial bedhead made for the marriage of King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves in 1539. Crafted from oak, this exquisite bedhead features intricate carvings, vibrant paintings, and delicate gilded decorations. The central panel proudly displays an inscription proclaiming Henry as the King of England and France, Lord of Ireland, and Head of the Church of England, along with the significant date - 1539. On one side, we find the Royal motto "DIEU ET MON DROIT" (God and my Right), while on the other side is a monogram representing both Anne and Henry. What makes this artifact truly exceptional is its rarity. Very few furniture pieces from King Henry's reign have survived to this day. It serves as a unique testament to a specific event in history - their ill-fated marriage. Although they officially wedded in January 1539 (according to the old-style Julian calendar), it was soon annulled due to Henry finding Anne unsuitable as his wife. Symbolic figures carved into the bedhead represent fertility, highlighting that one primary motive behind their union was producing a male heir for Henry's lineage. Preserved within Glasgow's Burrell Collection since being gifted by Sir William and Lady Burrell in 1944, this ceremonial bedhead stands not only as an extraordinary work of art but also as a tangible connection to one of history's most infamous royal marriages.
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