The Wolsey Closet

The Tudor ceiling

The exact date and origin of the Tudor ceiling in the Wolsey Closet are still unknown and it may have been moved from elsewhere in the palace.

The ceiling was once thought to have been created from leather maché but our Conservation team have discovered, through material analysis, that the substance is made from fine sawdust, mixed with brick dust, which is held together with a glue — likely made from animal skins.

Our Conservation team identified later additions to the ceiling, such as the Prince of Wales feathers made from plaster of Paris, which were almost certainly added later.

Explore the Tudor Ceiling in the Wolsey Closet in high-definition, in this Gigapixel image created in partnership with Google Arts & Culture.

What are the symbols on the ceiling?

The ceiling includes many colourful motifs closely connected to the Tudors. The most recognisable is the Tudor rose, an important royal symbol used from the reign of Henry VII onwards. The petals represent the two noble houses that fought for the throne in the civil wars known as the 'Wars of the Roses': the red petals represent the House of Lancaster, while the white petals symbolise the House of York. The emblem was first used by Henry VII after he united both houses through his marriage to Elizabeth of York.

Another motif is the Prince of Wales's feathers, characterised by three white ostrich feathers emerging from a gold coronet. This motif was favoured by Henry VII's son eldest son, Prince Arthur, and Henry VIII's son Edward VI.

In addition to heraldic symbols, the ceiling also contains a frieze with Wolsey's motto in Latin - 'Dominus michi adiutor' - which translates to 'the Lord be my helper'.