Anne Boleyn's Possible French Court Chair Emerges at Hever Castle Exhibition

A 500-year-old oak chair, believed to have been used by Anne Boleyn in the courts of the French Renaissance, is currently on exhibit at Hever Castle until January. In 2022, Paul Fitzsimmons of Marhamchurch Antiques purchased the intricately designed chair from an online auction in the U.S. He sought the expertise of historian Sandra Vasoli to trace its history. The chair, featuring linenfold carvings and craftsmanship from the Loire Valley, dates back to 1510-1520, coinciding with Boleyn's role as maid of honor to Mary Tudor and later as lady-in-waiting to Queen Claude. Notably, the carvings depict dolphins and a Tudor rose, along with putti holding a shield with the initials AB and Queen Claude's emblem. Vasoli suggests it may commemorate the 1518 Treaty of Eternal Peace. Boleyn, prior to her time in France, spent her early years at the court of Margaret of Austria in the Hapsburg Netherlands. Her father arranged her relocation to France in 1514, where she honed her courtly skills before returning to England. Following her execution, Henry VIII reportedly destroyed her portraits, resulting in a scarcity of authentic images. Exhibition co-curator Kate McCaffrey highlights Boleyn's intelligence and charisma rather than her looks. Research into the chair's provenance is ongoing.