The Bard’s Bronze Quill: Who Will Make History?
For more than a century, Robert Burns, Scotland’s beloved national poet, has stood watch over Chicago from his monument in Garfield Park. Now, as this historic landmark undergoes restoration, Chicago Scots is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the chance to etch your name on the Bard’s restored bronze quill and secure your permanent place in Scottish-American history.
At the forthcoming Chicago Scots Saint Andrew’s Day Gala Dec. 5, esteemed appraiser and auctioneer Alasdair Nichol, host of PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, will join us from New York City to auction the naming rights. The winning bidder will have their name permanently etched into the bronze quill before it is returned to Burns’ hand and will receive a commemorative replica—a lasting connection to the Bard and the Scottish heritage he represents.
Your Name. The Bard. A Legacy in Perpetuity.
“This is more than an auction. It is an opportunity to celebrate your Scottish roots, honor a literary icon, and leave a lasting mark that connects generations,” said John Devine LVO, OBE, Minister-Counsellor for the Scottish Government in the USA.
Described in its 1906 dedication program as “an enduring credit to the Scottish Americans of Chicago,” the monument is scheduled for rededication in 2027. Chicago Scots has committed to its ongoing stewardship, helping preserve this treasured piece of Scottish-American heritage for the future.
The quill has been missing for more than 100 years. Now, one name will become part of its story forever.
A Discovery More Than 100 Years in the Making
Created by celebrated Scottish sculptor William Grant Stevenson in 1906, Chicago’s Robert Burns Monument was gifted to the city by Chicago Scots in a ceremony of great pageantry. The monument features a bronze statue atop a granite pedestal, originally adorned with four bronze relief panels depicting scenes from Burns’ beloved works: Tam O’Shanter, To a Mouse, The Twa Dugs and Cotter’s Saturday Night.
Stolen nearly a century ago, the missing panels have long been mourned by generations of Scots. During the current restoration led by the Chicago Park District’s Department of Historic Assets, another loss came to light: the quill Stevenson had placed in Burns’ right hand was also missing.
Scottish Government USA has agreed to fund the recreation of the missing bronze quill, completing the restoration. “This is more than an auction. It is an opportunity to celebrate your Scottish roots, honor a literary icon, and leave a lasting mark on a landmark that connects generations,” says John Devine LVO, OBE, Head of Scottish Government USA.
Reviving the spirit of the $1 gifts made by Chicago’s Scottish working men and women in 1906, this spring donors and members contributed $36 gifts —the 1906 equivalent of $1 —raising nearly $20,000 to support the restoration and future maintenance of the monument.
Join us at The 181st Annual Saint Andrew’s Day Gala
Join Chicago Scots for the 181st Annual Saint Andrew’s Day Gala “The Feast of the Haggis” Saturday, December 5 at the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E Monroe St., Chicago. In a final salute to America250, we are honored to recognize former Senator Jim Webb as our 2026 Distinguished Citizen for his military, political, and literary contributions. Click here for more details on the Feast of the Haggis.
Guest Auctioneer: Alasdair Nichol
Since 1998, Alasdair Nichol has been a regular appraiser on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Antiques Roadshow. He has also raised millions of dollars as a charity auctioneer and is a sought-after speaker, lecturing at universities, museums, private clubs, and business organizations in the United States and abroad. His career as an auctioneer and appraiser in the fine-art world spans more than four decades.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he trained as a painter and printmaker at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and earned a master’s degree from Ulster University in Belfast. As a student, he won several awards and scholarships and was one of 30 students selected to represent the United Kingdom in an international traveling exhibition.
Nichol began his auction career at Phillips in Edinburgh in 1984. He went on to hold positions in Glasgow and London before becoming Head of Fine Art in New York. In 1999, he joined Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction house, where he spent 26 years, working primarily between New York and Philadelphia. He served as Chairman for the final six years of his tenure. During that time, the firm grew significantly, and he oversaw the sale of many distinguished collections and numerous world-record prices. He left Freeman’s in 2026.
He currently serves as a board member and Second Vice President of the Appraisers Association of America, which presented him with its President’s Award in 2024. He is Vice Chairman of the National Trust for Scotland USA and a member of the International Advisory Board of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is also a former board member of the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York, which presented him with its Mark Twain Award in 2017.
Now returning to his own artistic practice, Nichol maintains a studio in Long Island City and lives in New York City with his family. A member of Clan Macpherson through his mother’s side of the family, he is proud of his Scottish roots and often returns to Edinburgh, the Isle of Skye, and North and South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, where he still has family.
Every year at our Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as our Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its’ strong Scottish roots, our Honored Clan is Rotary International. We are proud to announce that Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead our Parade of Tartans at 12:30 p.m. Gordon will also receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.