A SUITCASE thought to have belonged to poet Burns has joined the display at the Robert Burns Centre in Dumfries.
The travelling case bears the initials ‘RB’ on the lid.
Experts say that as the bard travelled a great deal for his work, to visit his family and friends and also for leisure, such a case would have been essential to him.
Museums curator Judith Hewitt said: “In 2022, conservation work was undertaken on the case. During the course of this work, different experts had cause to look at the case. Their conclusions were that it pre-dated Burns and was probably 17th century.
“This leads us to speculate – would Robert Burns have used an older case in his travellings? Was it a gift from a benefactor – a hand-me down? Or did it belong to another ‘RB’?
“We know that it has been in the museum collection for some time and has always been associated with Robert Burns. Many of the objects within the museum were donated in the 1800s by people who knew Burns personally but records are not always intact.
“Further research may shed more light on its exact connection with him.
“We are very pleased to be able to share this precious object with our visitors.”
