Project Researcher Alice Blackwell takes a seat

The first Pictish throne to be built in more than 1,000 years has been unveiled in Edinburgh, prior to a tour of Scotland.

The throne has been commissioned by National Museums Scotland in partnership with Glenmorangie, in a bid to promote understanding of early Scots society.

It forms part of a three year campaign to raise awareness of Early Historic Scotland, with experts saying the period between 300-900 AD requires far more research.

Part of the project focusses on using Scots craftspeople to create versions of objects associated with the period to provide an insight into the skills and techniques used by the Picts.

The throne has been built by funiture maker Adrian McCurdy to a design inspired by pictures of Pictish sculptured stones.

The initiative will also fund a new archaeological research post at the National Museum of Scotland, while a book revealing the findings of the study will be published in 2011 with the aim of challenging popular myths and misconceptions about the period.

David Clarke, Keeper of Archaeology at National Museums Scotland, said: “Thrones were symbols of authority and power and as such would have been a very important part of Early Historic Scottish society that has hitherto been rather overlooked.

"There are no surviving examples of thrones from Early Historic Scotland and during the process of recreating this piece we’ve learnt so much about the design, manufacture and use of these thrones. It’s very exciting to see this type of throne brought to life for the first time in over a thousand years.”

The throne will go on display at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre from December before moving on to the Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain early next year. It will then tour various venues across the country.

Glenmorangie Chief Executive, Paul Neep, said: “We are delighted to be able to work with National Museums Scotland to enable them to make exciting revelations about this period.

“At The Glenmorangie Company we are proud of our Scottish roots, particularly the ancient art and culture of the Picts which surrounds our Distillery in Ross-shire.

“The Company has a natural association with National Museums Scotland as the museums’ collections include the eighth-century Hilton of Cadboll Pictish Stone, which was discovered near Glenmorangie House in Ross-shire and is the inspiration for the emblem that adorns Glenmorangie's bottles.”