[MR] History Blog: Wooden Bird is Boleyn Falcon

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Yesterday's History Blog reports that a wooden carving of a bird that sold
at auction for the equivalent of $75 is actually a heraldic device from
Hampton Court Palace related to Anne Boleyn. Since the piece was
identified, its value has increased considerably.

The bas relief device depicts a gilt falcon holding a sceptre, topped by an
imperial crown amid a field of red and white roses, representing both Anne
and Henry, and is a symbolic stick-in-the-eye to the Pope as Henry broke
from Rome. It was one of many decorations Henry VIII ordered added to
Hampton Court to celebrate his marriage to Anne. It is also one of the few
survivors from a purge of those same decorations after Henry had his former
beloved topped on what were probably trumped-up charges when Anne failed to
produce a male heir.

The falcon has since been cleaned and is now on loan to Hampton Court
Palace: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62646 .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆