James Gray (goldsmith)

Last updated

James Gray was a Scottish goldsmith working in Edinburgh during the reigns of Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI of Scotland. Gray is known for the "Galloway mazer", a gilt cup now held by the National Museums of Scotland. [1] He also engraved the brass plate for the tomb of Regent Moray (died 1570) in St Giles, Edinburgh.

Contents

Royal mint

Gray sold pearls to Mary, Queen of Scots and refashioned and mended a basin and laver for her. He also worked for the royal mint as a "sinker" or engraver of dies. His colleagues at the mint included James Mosman an assay master, David Forrest or Forret, General of the coin house, Andrew Henderson, warden, and John Balfour, comptroller warden. [2]

Gray was appointed in March 1575, with other mint workers, to inspect base money coins, known as hardheads and placks, in order to weed out counterfeits, and good coins for recirculation were marked the heraldic heart and star motif of Regent Morton. [3] Gray was in charge of the countermarking process. [4]

A Canongate goldsmith

The reconstructed tomb of Regent Moray in St Giles' Cathedral Moray St Giles.jpg
The reconstructed tomb of Regent Moray in St Giles' Cathedral

He was a burgess of the Canongate. James Gray and the carpenter Andrew Mansioun were among the elders of the kirk of the Canongate in August 1567. [5]

Gray is noted as the maker of the "Galloway mazer". A mazer is a kind of cup with a wooden bowl and silver mounts. The Galloway mazer has a maple wood bowl and engraved silver-gilt mounts. It has the hallmarks of a stag for the Canongate and "IG" as the initials of the maker James Gray. [6]

It was made for a wealthy couple, Archibald Stewart and Helen or Ellen Acheson. [7] Stewart was a wealthy merchant and a younger brother of James Stewart of Doune. Acheson was a daughter of the goldsmith, coiner, and mining entrepreneur John Acheson, and widow of another wealthy merchant, William Birnie. In September 1569 Regent Moray granted them the custom duties of the "Newhaven of Preston" also known as Acheson's Haven. [8]

The mazer has their initials "AS EA", [9] and the inscription from Proverbs 22, "Ane good mane (name) is to be chosen above great riches, and loving favour is above silver and above most fyne golde, 1569". [10] James Gray was likely a relative of the Achesons. An Isobel Gray (died 1565) was the wife of Alexander Acheson in Preston. [11]

The mazer descended in the Stewart of Burray family to the Earls of Galloway. In 1954 the politician Jo Grimond spoke in the House of Commons that the mazer ought to be retained in Scotland, and it was purchased for the National Museums of Scotland with assistance from the Art Fund.

The brass used for Regent Moray's tomb was second-hand. Gray was paid £20 for engraving the inscription, which was composed by George Buchanan. [12]

James Gray has been suggested as a possible maker of the Lennox jewel in the Royal Collection, along with the elder George Heriot and Michael Gilbert. The Lennox jewel is displayed at Holyrood Palace. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray</span> Regent for King James VI of Scotland from 1567–70

James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray was a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland. A supporter of his half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, he was the regent of Scotland for his half-nephew, the infant King James VI, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570. He was the first head of government to be assassinated with a firearm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Erskine, Earl of Mar (died 1572)</span> Scottish noble

John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar was a Scottish aristocrat and politician. He was the custodian of the infant James VI of Scotland and Regent of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Canongate</span> A district of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.

The Canongate is a street and associated district in central Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The street forms the main eastern length of the Royal Mile while the district is the main eastern section of Edinburgh's Old Town.

Robert Richardson was a Scottish Prior of St Mary's Isle and royal administrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mints of Scotland</span>

There were a number of mints in Scotland, for the production of the Scottish coinage. The most important mint was in the capital, Edinburgh, which was active from the reign of David I (1124–1153), and was the last to close, in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian civil war</span> War in Scotlad 1568–1573)

The Marian civil war in Scotland (1568–1573) was a period of conflict which followed the abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her escape from Lochleven Castle in May 1568. Those who ruled in the name of her infant son James VI fought against the supporters of the Queen, who was exiled in England. Edinburgh Castle, which was garrisoned in her name, became the focus of the conflict and surrendered only after an English intervention in May 1573. The conflict in 1570 was called an "intestine war in the bowels of this commonwealth", and the period was called soon after an "intestine war driven by questions against authority."

Thomas Foulis was a Scottish goldsmith, mine entrepreneur, and royal financier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great H of Scotland</span> Jewel belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots

The Great 'H' of Scotland was a jewel belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots comprising a large diamond, a ruby, and a gold chain. It was broken up in 1604 and made into the Mirror of Great Britain for James VI and I.

Annabell Murray, Countess of Mar (1536–1603), was a Scottish landowner, courtier and royal servant, the keeper of the infant James VI and his son Prince Henry at Stirling Castle

James Stewart, 1st Lord Doune (1529-1590) was a Scottish landowner.

Robert Jousie was a Scottish textile merchant, financier, and courtier. He was involved in the collection and administration of the English subsidy of James VI.

Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar and Kenmure, was a Scottish courtier, landowner, and supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.

John Acheson was a Scottish goldsmith, mining entrepreneur, and official of the mint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cockie</span>

James Cockie was a goldsmith in Edinburgh. He helped mint coins in Edinburgh Castle during the Marian Civil War and was hanged as a counterfeiter on 3 August 1573.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots</span>

The jewels of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), are mainly known through the evidence of inventories held by the National Records of Scotland. She was bought jewels during her childhood in France, adding to those she inherited. She gave gifts of jewels to her friends and to reward diplomats. When she abdicated and went to England many of the jewels she left behind in Scotland were sold or pledged for loans, first by her enemies and later by her allies. Mary continued to buy new jewels, some from France, and use them to reward her supporters. In Scotland her remaining jewels were worn by her son James VI and his favourites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mosman (goldsmith)</span> Scottish goldsmith

John Mosman or Mossman was a Scottish goldsmith based in Edinburgh who served the royal court and was involved in gold mining.

Archibald Stewart was a Scottish merchant and Provost of Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Mosman</span> Scottish goldsmith

James Mosman or Mossman was a Scottish goldsmith. He and his son John Mosman were supporters of the cause of Mary, Queen of Scots. James Mosman was executed in 1573 for counterfeiting coins in Edinburgh Castle. John Mosman carried letters for Mary, Queen of Scots, and was under surveillance by Francis Walsingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Barroun</span>

James Barroun or Baron was a wealthy Scottish merchant based in Edinburgh and supporter of the Scottish Reformation.

William Birnie or Birny was a Scottish merchant based Edinburgh.

References

  1. ↑ 'The Galloway Mazer', National Museums of Scotland
  2. ↑ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer: 1559-1566, vol. 11 (Edinburgh, 1916), pp. 76, 152, 344, 352, 360, 492.
  3. ↑ The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2023), A1575/3/13 Date accessed: 9 October 2023.
  4. ↑ William Boyd, Calendar State Papers Scotland: 1574-1581, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1907), pp. 97–8 no. 96
  5. ↑ G. How, 'Canongate Goldsmiths and Jewellers', Burlington Magazine, 74:435 (June 1939), pp. 282-4: NRS CH2/11/181, pp. 177-8.
  6. ↑ G. How, 'Scottish Standing Mazers', Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries (April 1934), p. 408.
  7. ↑ The Galloway Mazer, Art Fund
  8. ↑ Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, vol. 6 (Edinburgh, 1963), p. 246 no. 754.
  9. ↑ G. How, 'Canongate Goldsmiths and Jewellers', Burlington Magazine, 74:435 (June 1939), p. 287.
  10. ↑ Andrea Thomas, Glory and Honour: The Renaissance in Scotland (Edinburgh, 2013), p. 72.
  11. ↑ William Angus, Protocol Book of Gilbert Grote (Edinburgh, 1914), p. 68 no. 273 see also NRS CC8/8/1 p. 352.
  12. ↑ HMC 6th Report: Moray (London, 1877), p. 646.
  13. ↑ Rosalind Marshall & George Dalgleish, The Art of Jewellery in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1991), p. 17: 'The Lennox Jewel', RCIN 28181
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.