An unusual discovery made by a Scottish antiques dealer in a second-hand shop could write a new chapter in Scotland’s medieval history. Richard Drummond, an antiques expert, purchased one stained glass window for just £25 (about 25 dollars) in a flea market in Moffat, Scotland, without imagining that that piece, hidden by decades of dirt, could date back to the 14th century and have a direct connection with King Robert the Brucesymbolic figure of Scottish independence.
The Latin writing reveals a possible link with Robert the Bruce
Drummond said that, once the glass had been cleaned of the dirt accumulated over the years, a Latin inscription emerged: “Robert Rex Scotorum”translatable as “Robert, King of the Scots”. The scene depicted shows what could be the figure of a knight, surrounded by ornamental motifs and ancient inscriptions. The piece would have been found in an old abandoned house in the area, and put up for sale without anyone knowing its real value.
What made the antiquarian suspicious was precisely the style of the glass painting and the engravings, which, according to the opinion of a local museum curator, they could indicate an age of several centuries. Richard immediately began historical research, involving local and international experts, in an attempt to verify the origin of the object.
It could come from a castle linked to the king or from the Knights Templar
According to Drummond, the stained glass window could having arrived from France via the Knights Templar or come from one of the castles conquered or inhabited by Robert the Bruce during his fight for Scottish independence. However, it is not yet clear which castle could be the one of origin. To try to date the find precisely, Richard and his son Alfie were invited to take part in an episode of the show BBC’s “The Bidding Room”.where the experts present suggested that the object could be up to 700 years old. Richard, 49, commented:
If the time is confirmed, this is a historical discovery of enormous importance for Scotland. It really could be a priceless piece.
The glass, in exceptional conditionalso impressed by its state of conservation. “It’s a medieval work of art, a forgotten fragment of Scottish history found by chance in Moffat,” added the antiquarian, who hopes to see the object displayed in a museum if its authenticity is confirmed.
