HISTORIC FIND IN A FARMHOUSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 52, 19 July 1912, Page 8

HISTORIC FIND IN A FARMHOUSE.

I OAK CABINET .OP A TUDOR KING'S I ■' " SON. ; London, 'May S3. The most remarkable historical ''find" of recent years is an oak cabinet \yhick belonged to Prince Arthur, eldest eon of Henry VII., and which has been discovered in an old 'farmhouse near Ludlow, Shropshire. It has been purchased and presented by Mr. Robert Mond to the Albert Museum.

The acquisition of this relic wag announced yesterday afternoon at the annual meeting of the National Art Collections Fund, held at Burlington House. The cabinet, which was exhibited at the meeting, is actually a livery cupboard. It stands slightly over five feet high, and has bea'utifully carved panel doors,. the central one containing an elaborately designed "R." The interstices of the carving still show the vermilion color which once covered the whole exterior. Originally it was made for Prince Arthur, and was used either at Ludlow Castle or Twickenhall Manor, where the boy prince brought his fifteen-year-old bride, Catherine of Aragon. Five months after this romantic marriage he sickened of the plague while on the way to Ludlow Castle, where lie died in April, 1502, Catherine afterwards married his brother, who became Henry VIII. The history of the chest from that day is unknown until a few weeks ago it was found by a small country dealer in a farmhouse near Ludlow. At first it was supposed to be only an old piece without any exceptional interest, but one of the officials of the Victoria and Albert Museum found it to be of priceless value.