The Declaration of Arbroath Fine-Art 3D Facsimile — 7th Centennial Edition
A framed fine-art 3D facsimile of the Declaration of Arbroath
85% scale collector edition, finished with three-dimensional cast seals, and limited to 700 numbered copies.
- ARCHIVAL GICLÉE CONSTRUCTION
- 3D CAST SEALS
- CREATED IN ARBROATH — FRAMED IN SCOTLAND
- 85% SCALE OF THE HISTORIC DOCUMENT
- PAY IN FULL OR RESERVE WITH £528 DEPOSIT
Created by Steven Patrick Sim (The Tartan Artisan®), this 7th Centennial Edition presents the Declaration of Arbroath as a layered, dimensional fine-art facsimile, framed for display and supplied as a numbered collector piece.
Published to mark the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, this edition is scaled at 85% of the surviving historic document. It was created as the successor to the earlier discontinued 2016 smaller Memory of the World edition, with the 2020 edition introducing a more developed presentation and the important addition of three-dimensional cast seals.
Reserve your edition with a £528 deposit, with the remaining £1,056 balance due before completion and dispatch. Or pay the full £1,584 including VAT at checkout.
Each piece is part of a limited edition of 700 numbered copies. You may request a preferred edition number when ordering, subject to availability, or simply receive the lowest available number from the edition.
At a glance
7th Centennial Edition: published in 2020 to mark the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath
Limited edition: 700 numbered copies
Scale: 85% of the size of the historic document
Framed size: approximately 75cm W x 78.7cm H
Facsimile size: approximately 44.5cm W x 48.25cm H
Fine-art construction: archival-quality cotton fine-art paper, pigment-ink giclée printing, precision laser cutting, specialist reverse lining and reinforcement, hand assembly and conservation-minded framing
Three-dimensional cast seals: original digitally sculpted, wax-effect seal details, individually cast and carefully colour-finished
Signed and numbered: each framed piece is hand signed, numbered and embossed by the artist; the facsimile itself is also authenticated with a dated signature on the reverse before framing.
Framed in Scotland: prepared as a substantial framed artwork with UV-filtering, low-reflection glass
Frame options: hand-painted in Dark Charcoal, Grey and White, with a range of hand-stained traditional wood finishes also available
Supporting material: supplied with provenance material including a numbered certificate and booklet (with full transcription of the Declaration of Arbroath text in both English and Latin)
Payment choices: pay £1,584 including VAT in full, or reserve with a £528 deposit and pay the £1,056 balance before completion and dispatch (or collection)
The Declaration of Arbroath — a medieval cry for freedom
The Declaration of Arbroath was sent to Pope John XXII in 1320 and remains one of Scotland’s most powerful historical documents. Written on behalf of the barons and community of the realm of Scotland, it still speaks across the centuries with remarkable strength: a letter of political argument, identity, resistance and nationhood.
The famous passage represented in the artwork includes the words:
“...for, as long as a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be subjected to the lordship of the English. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”
For Steven Patrick Sim, born and raised in Arbroath, the Declaration is not a distant historical subject. It belongs to the place, memory and identity of the town itself. The facsimile project grew from that connection: a contemporary fine-art response to one of Scotland’s most celebrated surviving documents.
Permission, provenance and the 10-year Memory of the World anniversary
This project exists because permission was kindly granted by the National Records of Scotland in 2016. The surviving Declaration of Arbroath is in the keeping of the National Records of Scotland, and the source imagery used for the manuscript facsimile is acknowledged as Crown copyright, National Records of Scotland, SP13/7.
The three-dimensional cast seals in this edition are Steven Patrick Sim’s own artistic interpretation of the Declaration’s seals. Their original forms were digitally sculpted by Steven; the individual seals are cast and colour-finished as part of the handmade artwork. Their design is informed by historical reference and inspired by the William Home Lizars copperplate engraving of the Declaration of Arbroath.
The facsimile editions were first created following the Declaration’s recognition on the UNESCO UK Memory of the World Register. Ten years on, this renewed focus on the 7th Centennial Edition is offered with deep respect for the National Records of Scotland, whose permission made the work possible, and for the responsibility of creating a lasting artistic response to one of Scotland’s most treasured documents.
“After a quieter period of bereavement, family care and reflection, I am returning to this edition with renewed focus and gratitude. The Declaration belongs deeply to Arbroath, the town where I was born and raised, and I have never taken lightly the permission that allowed me to create these facsimile editions.”
— Steven Patrick Sim, The Tartan Artisan®
National Records of Scotland and UNESCO are acknowledged here with respect. This product page should not be read as implying endorsement by either body.
The 7th Centennial Edition
The original Declaration of Arbroath 3D Facsimile project began in 2016 after the Declaration was added to the UNESCO UK Memory of the World register. That first phase included a life-size 100-piece edition and a smaller 1,320-piece edition.
The 2016 smaller edition was later discontinued. In 2020, to mark the 700th anniversary of the Declaration, Steven created the 7th Centennial Edition: a new 700-copy edition at 85% scale, with a more developed presentation and three-dimensional cast seals.
- Original 2016 life-size edition: a separate 100-piece edition, now part of the project’s legacy story
- Original 2016 smaller edition: a discontinued 1,320-piece edition
- 2020 7th Centennial Edition: this current 700-copy collector edition, scaled at 85%
- HERO Edition: a separate life-size premium edition of only 7 pieces, not this product
This is the current 85% scale 7th Centennial Edition: an expertly framed, numbered, and certified edition with 3D cast seals.
Fine-art paper, pigments and careful construction
This is a hand-built, three-dimensional fine-art facsimile, not a flat printed reproduction. Its printed elements are produced on carefully selected archival-quality cotton fine-art paper using professional pigment-based giclée printing, then precision laser-cut, lined and reinforced where needed, assembled and finished by hand.
- Professional giclée printing: fine-art pigment printing through an Epson SureColor workflow, selected for faithful detail and tonal reproduction
- Cotton fine-art paper: acid-free, archival-quality cotton paper selected for its surface, print quality and suitability for the construction; individual paper brands, finishes and weights may change as materials evolve
- Pigment-based inks: fine-art inks chosen for colour reproduction and good display longevity when the piece is cared for appropriately
- Reverse lining and reinforcement: specialist acid-free bookbinding and conservation-type lining materials are applied to strengthen appropriate sections, joins and constructed elements; lining the reverse has long been part of this facsimile-making process
- Acrylic finishing: selected reverse surfaces and supporting elements receive a carefully applied artist-grade acrylic colour finish to complement the parchment appearance; the choice of product and application method has been refined over time
- Dimensional cast seals: individually cast with wax-like colour and character, with further hand-finishing as required; techniques have evolved to incorporate colour directly into some casting materials
- Specialist framing: constructed and framed using conservation-minded methods and selected protective materials appropriate to the artwork
- Specialist glazing: supplied under low-reflection, UV-filtering glass as specified for this framed edition
The aim is an heirloom-quality facsimile created for careful display, long-term enjoyment and a clear record of its edition and provenance. The same underlying artistic design remains, although particular papers, lining materials, inks and finishing supplies may change as the production process is refined.
Historical construction notes and the accompanying booklet document earlier stages of the edition. As with all fine-art works on paper and mixed media, display away from strong direct sunlight, high humidity, excess heat and damp environments.
A layered fine-art construction
The facsimile is created as a three-dimensional construction, not simply a flat print. It brings together digital reconstruction, fine-art pigment printing, laser cutting, hand-applied reverse lining, acrylic finishing, seal work, careful assembly and professional framing.
- Fine-art print foundation: produced from carefully prepared artwork based on the historic Declaration
- Layered structure: cut and assembled to create dimensional relief
- Reinforced reverse: selected rear sections and joins are strengthened with acid-free lining or bookbinding materials to support the delicate layered structure
- Reverse colour finishing: artist-grade acrylic colour is applied where needed to give the backing a sympathetic parchment-toned appearance
- Laser-cutting process: used for precision in creating the artefact's paper elements, seal tags and constructed layers
- Hand assembly: each piece requires careful manual construction and finishing
- 3D cast seals: added as sculptural details within the work
- Framed presentation: finished as a substantial artwork ready for display
The result is a piece that changes subtly with light. The dimensional layers and seals create shadows and depth, giving the Declaration a physical presence that a flat reproduction cannot achieve.
Laser cutting the giclée printed elements
The laser-cutting gallery shows the fine-art giclée-printed components being cut with precision. This stage is essential to recreating the realism of the facsimile, including irregular edges and surviving signatories’ seal tags, giving the finished work a dimensional, physically constructed presence. The images show the main letter element being cut, while upper layers are processed separately.
Three-dimensional cast seals and digital sculpting
The 3D cast seals are one of the defining features of the 7th Centennial Edition. They give the artwork depth, shadow and presence, helping the facsimile feel closer to a historic artefact than a flat print.
The surviving Declaration retains only 19 seals, a detail that contributes to its distinctive visual and historical character. For the 2020 editions, the seal treatment evolved beyond the printed and embellished giclée approach used in the original 2016 editions.
- 3D cast seal effect: created to add sculptural depth and wax-like character
- Digital sculpting: seal forms were modelled and refined by Steven using stylus and tablet work — a process closer to painting and sculpting in 3D space than selecting a ready-made ornament
- Historical reference: inspired mainly by the William Home Lizars copperplate engraving tradition and informed by the wider surviving seal record, rather than presented as exact reproductions of the original seals
- Individually finished presentation: wax-like colours are developed through the casting material and, where needed, additional hand-colouring and finishing to evoke medieval wax
- Layered construction: the seals form part of the overall dimensional structure of the facsimile
The modelling gallery — featuring a small selection from the 19 seals — shows some of the technical and artistic development behind the seal moulds. The finished artwork images show how these cast seal forms contribute to the depth, texture and presence of the final facsimile.
Framing and presentation
Each 7th Centennial Edition is supplied framed. The frame — consisting of both a sealed inner box structure, held within a robust outer box frame — is an important part of the object: it protects the dimensional facsimile, gives the piece architectural depth and allows the artwork to sit with presence on a wall.
The product gallery shows the hand-painted Dark Charcoal and hand-painted White framed facsimiles, with hand-stained timber finishes also available. A recently completed Grey commission is shown below as a new frame option.
- Hand-painted Dark Charcoal: a strong contemporary hand-painted presentation, particularly effective with the aged parchment tones and seal colours
- Hand-painted Grey: a softer grey, lighter than Dark Charcoal and particularly suited to modern interiors with monochromatic or neutral colour schemes; the warm parchment and coloured seals provide a gentle contrast
- Hand-painted White: a clean, gallery-style white frame for a brighter, contemporary display
- Hand-stained wood options: a range of warmer and darker heritage finishes
Frame finish availability may be confirmed after ordering if a particular finish is requested. If you have a specific interior, collection or display requirement, please contact me before ordering.
A new Grey frame finish — recent Edzell commission
A recent 7th Centennial Edition commission, Facsimile No. 076, was made for a collector in Edzell with the new hand-painted Grey frame finish. Lighter and softer than Dark Charcoal, it works particularly well in contemporary rooms with monochromatic or neutral colour schemes, while the warm parchment tones and coloured cast seals bring contrast and character.
The images below show the complete framed piece, the hand-finished corner detail and the depth of the box-frame construction.
Frame colour options
The frame finish changes the whole character of the piece. The swatches and framed examples are included to help you choose the finish that best suits your room, collection or presentation style.
| Frame finish | Presentation character |
|---|---|
| Dark Charcoal | Hand-painted contemporary deep charcoal / black finish; recommended for strong wall presence |
| Grey | Hand-painted soft grey finish, lighter than Dark Charcoal; a refined contemporary option particularly suited to modern interiors and monochromatic or neutral colour schemes, while allowing the warm parchment tones and coloured seals to stand out. |
| White | Hand-painted gallery-style white frame; perfect for a minimalistic effect |
| Yew | Hand-stained warm traditional finish with a heritage character |
| Antique Brown | Hand-stained traditional brown finish suited to historic interiors |
| Medium Brown | Hand-stained balanced warm-brown presentation |
| Maple | Hand-stained lighter wood effect with softer contrast |
| Medium Oak | Hand-stained classic oak-toned finish |
| Georgian Mahogany | Hand-stained richer, darker traditional presentation |
| Dark Oak | Hand-stained deep oak-toned finish with strong heritage weight |
| Tudor Oak | Hand-stained very traditional darker oak-style presentation |
Brass wall-plate hanging system
The framed artwork is designed as a substantial wall piece, so the hanging method is part of the presentation. The rear of the frame is fitted with a brass wall-plate hanging system. Two level brass wall fittings are fixed securely to the wall, and the corresponding plates on the frame drop into place for secure display.
The image below shows part of the rear hardware and corner construction. Final installation should always be carried out with suitable wall fixings for your wall type and the weight of the framed piece.
Certificate, booklet and provenance material
Each 7th Centennial Edition is supplied with supporting material for provenance and record-keeping.
- Numbered certificate: confirms the edition and number
- Booklet: includes supporting information, English and Latin text, and seal notes
- Edition number requests: you may request a preferred number in the order notes, subject to availability
Choosing a number: if you would like a specific edition number, please add that as a request in your order notes or contact me before ordering. Specific numbers cannot be guaranteed, but I will confirm availability where possible.
Some collectors choose a number with personal significance, where available.
A note on the printed publications: the accompanying booklet and construction literature document the original development of the edition. Over time, selected papers, printing and reinforcement materials and finishing techniques have been refined as supplies and methods have changed. The historical notes remain part of the edition’s story.
Payment options — pay in full or reserve with deposit
You may pay in full at checkout, or reserve your Declaration of Arbroath fine-art facsimile with a one-third reservation deposit.
Reserve today for £528. The remaining £1,056 balance is due before completion and dispatch.
| Payment option | Customer details |
|---|---|
| Pay in full |
£1,584 including VAT due today. Your order is paid in full at checkout, with no later balance due. |
| Reserve with deposit |
£528 due today. Your edition and queue position are reserved once the deposit is paid. The remaining £1,056 balance is due before completion and dispatch. |
The full £1,584 product price (including VAT), together with any separately agreed delivery charge, must be paid before the framed artwork is released for collection or delivery.
This is a fine-art reservation deposit and balance collection arrangement, not consumer finance or credit.
Availability, making time and order queue
This edition is produced in small batches rather than held as mass-produced stock. A framed or near-complete piece may sometimes be available sooner. If no suitable piece is immediately available, orders are completed in order of reservation, usually on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each piece involves fine-art printing, laser-cut construction, 3D cast seal work, hand assembly, framing, certification and safe collection or delivery planning. Because of this, completion times can vary depending on the current order queue, framer availability and delivery arrangements.
Please allow several weeks for completion unless a suitable piece is already available. After your order or reservation deposit is received, I will confirm the current position, likely timescale and next steps.
I am working toward a regular production flow for this edition, while still treating each piece as a carefully made collector artwork rather than a standard stocked item.
Collection, local delivery and specialist transport
This is a large, professionally framed and glazed artwork, so it is handled differently from a normal parcel. The framed edition does not have an automatic UK-wide or international courier shipping rate. Please choose the correct collection or delivery arrangement before ordering.
- Collect from Aizle Framing, Balfron: collection is available without a delivery charge, strictly by prior appointment once the work is ready. Select the checkout option marked “COLLECTION ONLY — Aizle Framing, Balfron; Arbroath by prior arrangement” if you are happy to collect.
- Collect from Arbroath: collection may also be arranged through Steven in Arbroath by prior agreement, once the framed artwork has been returned to Arbroath. Please contact me before ordering to confirm the practical arrangements.
- Aizle local / regional hand delivery: qualifying postcodes around Aizle’s supported delivery area will see “Aizle local/regional framed artwork delivery” at £60 including VAT at checkout. This covers the published local/regional option only and is not a nationwide rate.
- Other UK addresses: if local delivery is not offered for your postcode and you cannot collect, please contact me before placing your order. A separate quotation may be arranged for specialist personal delivery by Aizle Framing or by Steven, depending on the destination, journey, handling and availability. Any agreed charge is additional to the artwork price and payable before delivery.
- Courier enquiries: specialist courier transport for a framed glass piece can only be considered by individual quotation, after packing, cover and handling arrangements have been checked. DHL calculated shipping rates for the separate unframed Burnished Gold print editions do not apply to this framed facsimile.
- International enquiries: overseas delivery is not available through automatic checkout for this framed artwork. Please contact me first so feasibility, suitable packing, insurance and the destination can be considered.
Important — “FREE” at checkout means collection only. Shopify shows “FREE” beside the £0 collection option because no delivery is provided. It is not an offer of free delivery to the address you have entered. If you require delivery and your postcode does not show the eligible £60 local option, please contact me first for a quotation rather than selecting collection.
International customers: where any exceptional overseas transport is separately agreed, import duties, local taxes, clearance fees and other destination charges may apply. Responsibility for these costs will be clarified before a quotation is accepted.
Collection and any hand-delivery dates are arranged individually. Safe handling depends on the finished frame, destination, accessibility, insurance and the framer’s advice. A separately developed portfolio presentation intended for easier shipping is not included in this framed product listing.
Created in Arbroath by Steven Patrick Sim
Steven Patrick Sim, The Tartan Artisan®, was born and raised in Arbroath. His work with the Declaration of Arbroath began not only as a historical art project, but also as a personal response to the town, the Abbey, the Declaration tartan and the continuing cultural memory of 1320.
Archive photographs of Steven wearing the Declaration tartan at Arbroath Abbey and beside the Declaration of Arbroath monument are part of the story of the project. Some of these images show the larger / life-size facsimile from the earlier edition story rather than the 85% scale Centennial Edition offered here, but they remain important as creator, place and provenance imagery.
Created in Scotland by Arbroath-born artist Steven Patrick Sim, in response to one of the nation’s most treasured historical documents.
Why collectors choose this edition
- Historic subject: one of Scotland’s most powerful documents presented as a contemporary fine-art object
- Permission and provenance: created with permission kindly granted by National Records of Scotland, with Crown copyright acknowledged
- Limited and numbered: a 700-copy certified edition
- Fine-art materials and careful reinforcement: archival-quality cotton fine-art paper, pigment-based printing, acid-free reverse lining and conservation-minded framing under UV-filtering glass
- Substantial but displayable: 85% scale, smaller than life-size but still impressive
- Three-dimensional cast seals: a defining feature of the 2020 edition
- Framed and ready for display: professionally presented as a substantial wall piece
- Frame choice: hand-painted in Dark Charcoal, Grey and White, with hand-stained traditional wood finishes also available
- Supporting material: certificate, booklet and provenance material
- Made in Scotland: created by Steven Patrick Sim, The Tartan Artisan®, in Arbroath
A framed Declaration of Arbroath for collectors who value Scottish history, craftsmanship, sculptural depth, careful materials and lasting provenance.
Size, pricing & how to order
Choose your preferred frame finish and payment option from the product options. The artwork will then be reserved, produced, framed, certified and prepared for agreed collection or delivery.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Edition | 7th Centennial Edition |
| Edition size | 700 numbered copies |
| Scale | 85% of the historic document |
| Framed size | 75cm W x 78.7cm H approx. 29.5" W x 31" H |
| Facsimile size | 44.5cm W x 48.25cm H approx. 17.5" W x 19" H |
| Price |
£1,584 including VAT £1,320 + £264 VAT |
| Deposit option | Reserve with £528 deposit; £1,056 balance due before completion and dispatch |
Framed-edition price update: the current price is £1,584 including VAT. The £1,320 pre-VAT figure deliberately retains the historic reference to 1320, the year of the Declaration of Arbroath, while the VAT-inclusive selling price reflects increased specialist framing and production costs.
Read more about the recent Grey-framed commission and the framed-edition price update →
Price includes the framed artwork, numbered certificate, booklet and provenance material; delivery is additional where applicable. Checkout offers collection without a delivery charge, or £60 local/regional Aizle hand delivery for qualifying postcodes. Contact me before ordering for any other delivery arrangements.
To order, choose your preferred frame finish and payment option. If you need a custom delivery quote, please contact me before completing checkout.
If you would like a specific edition number, add it in the order notes or include it in your enquiry. Specific numbers are subject to availability.
Copyright, permission and artistic interpretation
This fine-art facsimile is produced with permission kindly granted by the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh, in 2016. The surviving copy of the Declaration of Arbroath is in the keeping of the National Records of Scotland, and the manuscript source imagery used in this work is acknowledged as Crown copyright, National Records of Scotland, SP13/7.
The William Home Lizars copperplate engraving of the Declaration of Arbroath is also acknowledged as Crown copyright, National Records of Scotland. It formed an important historical reference point for the seal work shown in this project.
The three-dimensional cast seals in this edition are Steven Patrick Sim’s own artistic interpretation of the Declaration’s seal tradition, not exact reproductions of the surviving medieval seals. The original seal designs were digitally sculpted by Steven, and the individual seals are cast, coloured and finished using techniques refined over the life of the edition. The forms draw inspiration and visual reference from the historical record, especially the William Home Lizars engraving.
National Records of Scotland and UNESCO are acknowledged with respect. No endorsement by either body is implied.
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