The Facts
Bonhams will auction a pair of important late medieval royal heraldic embroideries, likely from the Kingdom of Castile, for the first time in its Fine Decorative Arts sale on 2 July 2026 in London. The panels, wrought in silver and gold thread and rich silks, each depict a three-towered castle with a crowned figure emerging from a tower, and are estimated at £200,000–300,000. Radiocarbon dating and silver testing date the pieces to pre-1600, with technical and art historical evidence suggesting a creation date between 1460 and 1520. The embroideries may represent King Henry IV of Castile and his father John II, or possibly the same monarch depicted twice, and are thought to have been used in ceremonial functions such as a coffin shroud or state banner.
The Signal
The sale offers a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a tangible connection to the political and artistic history of late medieval Europe, weaving together Islamic textile techniques from Al-Andalus, English royal lineage through John of Gaunt, and the consolidation of the Castilian crown. The pieces are among the few surviving examples of 15th-century Spanish royal heraldic embroidery, and their estimate reflects the growing market for such historically significant textiles. The auction will be closely watched by institutional and private collectors of medieval decorative arts, as well as those interested in the cross-cultural craftsmanship of the Nasrid period.
- People: Oliver Cornish, John II, Henry IV, John of Gaunt, Catherine of Lancaster, Alfonso VIII, Constance of Castile, Henry III of Spain
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: London
- Prices: £200,000-300,000
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