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Friday, 7th November 2008 (1752 views)

A rare gold chain of office dating from the reign of Henry VIII has been sold at auction for £313,250.

The chain, thought to have been presented to a Lord Chief Justice by the king himself, is known as the Coleridge Collar and demonstrates the wearer's allegiance to the Crown.

Believed to be the only complete chain of office of its age in the world, Henry VIII is thought to have given it to his close advisor Sir Edward Montagu in the 1540s.

The gold chain is an important Tudor artifact and demonstrates high levels of skills and artistry in its intricate designs.

It has never come up for auction before and Christie's in London had predicted that it would fetch up to £300,000.

Livery collars were first introduced by Henry IV and symbolised both the status of the wearer and their allegiance to the king.

 

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