Achi news desk-
Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare piece of early French silver, of which very little has survived, even in France. His long standing association with Mary was probably kept safe for over 450 years.
For three centuries, it was owned by the family of the Dukes of Hamilton, after being acquired, around 1674, by Anne, Duchess of Hamilton. According to a handwritten note kept with him from the end of the 17th century, he bought the casket, which had previously belonged to Mary, Marchioness of Douglas, on the understanding that it belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots.
The note records the belief that this was the casket that played a dramatic role in Mary’s downfall when, in December 1568, a similar casket was produced at a hearing ordered by Elizabeth I against Mary at Westminster. This included what were known as the Casket Letters. These love poems and letters, allegedly from Mary to her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, linked them to a plot to murder her second husband, Lord Darnley.
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Dr Anna Groundwater, Acting Keeper of Scottish History and Archeology at the National Museums of Scotland, said: “One of Scotland’s national treasures, this extraordinary casket has been revered as a relic of Mary, Queen of Scots for centuries, and I very glad that more people have the chance to see him up close when he goes on tour later this year. Beyond its associations with one of Scotland’s most famous figures, it is a rare and spectacular piece of historic money in its own right.”
The casket is believed to have been given to Mary by her first husband, François II of France, and came to Scotland with her in 1561 after his death in 1560. Her inventories from this period list multiple examples of valuable jewelery and other such valuable objects.
A casket first appears in the records following Mary’s arrest in 1567 by the rebellious Confederate Lords, when it is found in the hands of Lord Bothwell’s servant. It was brought before the Privy Council of Scotland where its lock was removed to reveal its contents. It is not known exactly what these were at the time. However, a year later, when the Earl of Moray dramatically produced the same casket at Westminster, it now contained the Damned Casket Letters.
The authorship of the letters remains a matter of debate, but it is generally believed that they were doctored. Following the hearing in Westminster, Mary remained imprisoned in England for 19 years, until she was executed in 1587 for her part in the Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth I, and place Mary on the throne of England.
Councilor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of the Communities Committee and speaking on behalf of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: “This is such an exciting loan. We are proud to be working with the National Museums of Scotland once again, a key partner for Kirkcudbright Galleries over the years, and this will undoubtedly be an emotional and exciting exhibition. Personally, I can’t wait to see it.”
Caroline Mathers, Director of Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, said: “The Smith Art Gallery and Museum is delighted to be partnering with the National Museum of Scotland to bring the Casket of Mary, Queen of Scots to Stirling. This extraordinary treasure gives us an insight into the life of a queen who has captured imaginations around the world for hundreds of years. A story of power, oppression and ultimately, betrayal. It’s as good a story as it gets.”
His exhibition in Kirkcudbright and Stirling is supported by the Weston Loan Program with the Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loans Program is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller museums and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.
Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “One of the key aims of the Weston Loan Program is to bring world-class objects to regional museums so they can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. We are delighted to support the exhibition of this very special piece of Scottish history in Kirkcudbright and Stirling where it can be seen in a new context by local audiences.”
The casket will be on display at the Kirkcudbright Galleries from November 2, 2024 – April 27, 2025 and then at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum from April 30 – August 31, 2025.
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To prepare the casket for the trip, centuries of spalling and corrosion have been removed. The technique of electrolytic reduction was used via a pen-like device, enabling the delicate gold and silver surfaces to be cleaned in a highly controlled and targeted manner without the need for any abrasive polishing.
The tour of the casket of Mary, Queen of Scots is part of the National Strategy for Museums Scotland, which sees collections and expertise shared through loans, participation in national projects, community engagement, funding for acquisitions and free knowledge and skills development opportunities for museums across Scotland. .
There are currently over 2500 objects on loan to Scottish institutions, bringing the National Collection to audiences across the country. These include two rare decorative panels dating from the 16th and 17th centuries which feature in Perth Unicorn Museum’s first exhibition and an 800-year-old Bishop’s staff, or grozier – made of gilt bronze and decorated with enamel inlay – which has recently progressed. exhibition at Whithorn Priory Museum.
Find out more about Mary, Queen of Scots and some of the objects associated with her in the National Museums of Scotland collection here.
