EDINBURGH.- Lyon & Turnbull are to sell the flute belonging to Bonnie Prince Charlie in Edinburgh on May the 13th 2015. The ivory and silver flute is valued at £4,000-£6,000, it is amongst over 180 lots in the anniversary sale that celebrates the long and colourful history of all items associated with Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites.

Originally the property of a Mrs Gordon of Hallhead, the flute was seized by the Hanoverian supporter Major-General Henry Hawly, from her house in Aberdeen when he was billeted there in February 1746. the The Gordons of Hallhead were amongst the most important Jacobite families of the North East. Robert Gordon, claret merchant in Bordeaux had connections to the Stuart court likely in both Scotland and mainland Europe.

Colin Fraser Scottish Silver and Jacobite Specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said “This is a tremendous sale of items that celebrate the 300th anniversary of everything to do with Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites. The allure of Charles Edward Stuart, the “Bonnie Prince Charlie” of legend, and his romantic but ill-starred campaigns continues to this day. We have a number of very unusual and personal items in the sale and have had interest from potential buyers from around the world.”

Other items of note include one of the ‘Four Peers Rings’ valued at £15,000 to £25,0000. This important ring is one of only four recorded examples and the only one in private hands. Colin Fraser said “It is arguably the finest of the Four Peers Rings in survival and has excellent provenance coming from the James Graham of Arith Collection. Three others are known to survive, all within institutional collections including the National Museums Scotland and two within the British Museum.”

The ring is perhaps one of the most iconic and romantic examples of Jacobite jewellery. These important rings were created as a commemorative memorial for the Peers and high ranking Officers who gave the greatest sacrifice for the cause they so staunchly upheld. The execution of these men was not only a defining moment in the aftermath of the uprising and Jacobite history but shows the fear and recrimination of the Scots and the Clans which the Hanoverian dynasty dealt after the defeat of Culloden.

The sale also includes items of jewellery, glassware, paintings, arms and armour manuscripts and letters relating to the Jacobite cause. There are many items of a personal nature, gifts from Bonnie Prince Charlie to supporters including an 18th century French gold snuff box valued at £4,000-6,000 that was given to William Graham of Arith by Charles Edward Stuart.

An Italian silver sermon case belonging to Henry Benedict Stuart, Cardinal Duke of York, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s brother, is valued at £10-15,000 and an important Jacobite Scottish basket hilted sword valued at £10-15,000. The sword is attributed to Thomas Biggart of Irvine and is possibly the only signed Inverness basket hilted sword ever recorded. A Scottish silver quaich used for final meal of the William Boyd, Earl of Kilmarnock, before he was executed at Tower Hill, London on the 18th August 1746 for his part in the Jacobite uprising. It was made in Glasgow by William Clerk, c1695 and is valued at £10-20,000.

The major Jacobite risings were called the Jacobite rebellions by the ruling governments. The "first Jacobite rebellion" and "second Jacobite rebellion" were known respectively as "the Fifteen" and "the Forty-five", after the years in which they occurred (1715 and 1745).

Although each Jacobite rising had unique features, they were part of a larger series of military campaigns by Jacobites attempting to restore the Stuart kings to the thrones of Scotland and England (and after 1707, Great Britain). James was deposed in 1688 and the thrones were claimed by his daughter Mary II jointly with her husband, the Dutch-born William of Orange (who was also James II's nephew).

After the House of Hanover succeeded to the British throne in 1714, the risings continued, and intensified. They continued until the last Jacobite rebellion ("the Forty-five"), led by Charles Edward Stuart (the Young Pretender), who was soundly defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. This ended any realistic hope of a Stuart restoration.