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Last remaining Tudor bed to go on display in historic castle
Author: Jonathan Warren
The last Tudor bed in existence, which was made to mark Henry VII’s accession to the throne, will go on display in Auckland castle later this week. The 527-year-old Paradise State Bed is the last remaining bed from the Tudor dynasty and was commissioned as a triple celebration of Henry VII's coronation, his marriage to Elizabeth of York, and the end of the War of the Roses.
Unsurprisingly, the Paradise State Bed represents the very best of 15th century design. Hand-crafted from oak, the bed is covered in carvings that show the power and wealth of the new king. The headboard depicts Adam and Eve with the faces of the King and Queen, surrounded by the fruits of paradise which symbolise fertility and hope for a Tudor heir to the throne.
That the Paradise State Bed will be displayed to the public is particularly exciting, given that it was lost for many years and was only rediscovered in 2010. Speaking of the display of the bed within Auckland castle, its curator Dr Christopher Ferguson said: "We’re delighted to be able to showcase this historic treasure, the only remaining piece of early Tudor state furniture, here in North East England.”
Henry VII
Henry VII
