The Mary, Queen of Scots Casket

3D Model

A finely decorated silver-gilt casket, made in Paris around 1490-1510, and believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots. It is an extremely rare example of French silver from the Renaissance era because much was melted down for their precious metals. Its survival attests to its association with Mary, and it has been treasured as a relic of this unfortunate queen by the Dukes of Hamilton for over 340 years.

Its particular renown derives from the belief that it is the casket that was dramatically produced at a hearing against Mary at Westminster in 1568, containing the notorious ‘Casket Letters’, used as evidence of the queen’s complicity in the murder of her husband Henry, Lord Darnley.

Discover more about Mary, Queen of Scots: https://www.nms.ac.uk/mary

Accession No.: X.2022.28.1-4 Material: Silver, with traces of silver-gilt Dimensions: 110 mm H x 210 W x 147 D; weight, 1.8 kg Period: Late Medieval-Early Renaissance, c.1490-1510 Images: Neil McLean. Model: Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark, 21/02/22