Seal commissioned by Robert the Bruce at risk of leaving UK
A seal commissioned by Robert the Bruce could be exported from the UK
A seal commissioned by Robert the Bruce is at risk of being exported from the UK unless a buyer can be found to match the asking price of £151,250.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has placed a temporary export bar on the two-part bronze seal in an attempt to keep it in the country.
Authorised in 1322, it was used to seal customs documents by Dunfermline Abbey as proof of their authority and endorsement by the King.
The seal is has engravings of Saint Margaret and the Scottish royal arms, with an inscription which translates ‘Robert, by the Grace of God, King of the Scots.’
The seal is extremely rare, making it a significant part of Scottish history.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: “This amazing artefact represents one of the few objects directly associated with Robert the Bruce’s reign.
Its departure would not only result in the loss of this irreplaceable item, but it would also strip us of the opportunity to learn more about this exceptional figure.”
He decided to prevent the seal from being exported after a recommendation from the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).
RCEWA Member Leslie Webster said: “This remarkable and handsome seal-die is of national importance on several counts; it is closely linked to the charismatic figure of Robert the Bruce, and to the history and institutions of Scotland at a crucial time in its evolution as a nation; its association with the royal abbey of Dunfermline sheds light on how the king acted out his authority, delegating the powers of the crown; and its outstanding quality may suggest the influence of French craftsmen.”
The decision on the export licence application for the seal matrix pair will be deferred until June, but could be extended to September if there is serious intention to raise funds to match the asking price.