The throne was commissioned by The Glenmorangie Company and National Museums Scotland to aid understanding of the Early Historic people of Scotland and their society.
This period of Scotland's early history between 300-900AD has many myths associated with it and is widely accepted to warrant more research.
The Pictish throne is the first to be built in over a thousand years and was created by master furniture maker Adrian McCurdy whose design was inspired by depictions on some of the first Pictish sculptured stones to feature important people seated on thrones.
The throne has been commissioned as part of a three-year partnership between The Glenmorangie Company and National Museums Scotland to support the study and understanding of people of Early Historic Scotland.
An important aspect of the partnership and research has been working with contemporary craftspeople, like Adrian McCurdy, to make versions of objects from this Early Historic period that provide significant insights into the skills and techniques used by the Picts and the sophistication of the society they lived in.
The initiative also funds an archaeological research post at the National Museum of Scotland and a landmark book, to be published in 2011, will present findings about Early Historic Scotland based on new research.
The findings will challenge misconceptions about the period and reveal that Early Historic Scotland was active in wider European communities.
The throne will go on display first at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh from 1 December 2009 and then at the Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain, Ross-shire in 2010 from where it will subsequently go on display at various destinations across Scotland.
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."
"We are delighted to be able to work with National Museums Scotland to enable them to make exciting revelations about this period," commented Paul Neep, The Glenmorangie Company's Chief Executive. He continued: "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."
About The Glenmorangie Company:
The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered at Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay malt. It also owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
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