Philip Jacobson was a London goldsmith who worked for James VI and I and Anne of Denmark.
He was a son of Philip Jacob Jacobson of Antwerp and Anne de Croyes, a daughter of Philipp de Croyes of Antwerp. He resided in St Margaret's parish in London. King James vetoed his bid become an English citizen or denizen in 1624, which required an Act of Parliament, in order to continue to profit from customs revenue generated by his trade. [2]
In May 1605 Arnold Lulls was paid £1,550 and Jacobson was paid £980 for jewels set with diamonds and two dozen buttons given to Anne of Denmark at the baptism of her daughter Princess Mary. [3]
He supplied Anne of Denmark with a jewel worth £400 as a New Year's Day gift to Princess Elizabeth for January 1607. [4] In June 1607 he supplied a "jewel like a rose of diamonds with great pendant pearls" valued at £2200 as one of King James' gifts to the Prince Joinville, brother of the Duke of Guise, who was visiting England. [5] Jacobson bought a great diamond from the East India Company in March 1614 for £535. [6] In 1620 he was an investor or "adventurer" in the Virginia Company.
In 1624 Lionel Cranfield, the Lord Treasurer, appointed Philip Jacobson as a goldsmith to the king, noting that a predecessor George Heriot was dead and two other royal goldsmiths John Spilman and William Herrick rarely did any work for the crown. [7] He made two "picture-cases" or miniature cases for King James and a hat-band set with 37 diamonds, and a diamond ring for Charles I, for which he was paid £2380 in 1627. [8] Jacobson gave a pair of gloves to Charles I as a New Year's Day gift in 1627. [9]
In June 1629, King Charles appointed Jacobson and the goldsmiths James Heriot, Thomas Simpson, and William Tirrey to appraise crown jewels selected for sale by Francis Cottington, James Maxwell, and George Bingley. The jewels to be valued included Anne of Denmark's jewelled circlet, and two pearls from the Mirror of Great Britain. [10] The final selection, including Anne of Denmark's diamond and ruby double or Lorraine cross priced at £300, was valued at £3000 and William Tirrey was appointed to manage the sale. [11]
George Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as the founder of George Heriot's School, a large independent school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.
George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar, KG, PC was, in the last decade of his life, the most prominent and most influential Scotsman in England. His work lay in the King's Household and in the control of the State Affairs of Scotland and he was the King's chief Scottish advisor. With the full backing and trust of King James he travelled regularly from London to Edinburgh via Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Sir Peter Vanlore was a Dutch-born English merchant, jeweller and moneylender in Elizabethan and Stuart England.
Sir John Spilman was a Lindau, German-born entrepreneur who founded the first commercially successful paper-mill in England, establishing a factory on the River Darenth in Dartford, Kent in 1588. Spilman was also jeweller to Queen Elizabeth I, and was knighted by King James I.
Juan de Tassis y Acuña, 1st Count of Villamediana, was a Spanish diplomat and official, awarded his title by king Felipe III of Spain in 1603, and the General Head of Spanish Post Offices.
Sir William Herrick or Hericke was an English jeweller, courtier, diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1622.
Sir Francis Stuart or Frank Stewart (1589–1635), sailor, aristocrat, Member of Parliament and courtier
Costume and gold and silver plate belonging to Elizabeth I were recorded in several inventories, and other documents including rolls of New Year's Day gifts. Arthur Jefferies Collins published the Jewels and Plate of Queen Elizabeth I: The Inventory of 1574 from manuscripts in 1955. The published inventory describes jewels and silver-plate belonging to Elizabeth with detailed references to other source material. Two inventories of Elizabeth's costume and some of her jewellery were published by Janet Arnold in Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlocke'd.
Margaret Hartsyde or Hairtsyde was a Scottish servant, jewel thief, and landowner. A servant of the queen, Anne of Denmark, Hartsyde's duties included looking after the queen's jewels, dealing with the goldsmith George Heriot, and handling large sums of money.
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.
Abraham Harderet, goldsmith and jeweller to Elizabeth I of England and Anne of Denmark
Nicasius Russell was a jeweller who worked in London for James I, Anne of Denmark, and Charles I.
Sir Francis Gofton was an English courtier and administrator. He was an auditor of royal accounts and jewels, Chief Auditor of the Imprest from 1597 and Auditor of Mint from August 1603. Gofton acquired the manor of Heathrow, and houses in Stockwell and West Ham. He was often called "Auditor Gofton". The surname is frequently transcribed as "Goston" or "Guston"
Arnold Lulls was a Flemish goldsmith and jeweller in London.
Nicolò Molin (1562-1608) was a Venetian noble and ambassador to England.
Abraham der Kinderen was a London goldsmith who supplied jewels to the royal family.
The jewels of Anne of Denmark (1572–1619), wife of James VI and I and queen consort of Scotland and England, are known from accounts and inventories, and their depiction in portraits by artists including Paul van Somer. A few pieces survive. Some modern historians prefer the name "Anna" to "Anne", following the spelling of numerous examples of her signature.
John Williams was a Welsh-born goldsmith based in London who worked for the royal family.
An inventory of the jewels of Mary I of England, known as Princess Mary in the years 1542 to 1546, was kept by her lady in waiting Mary Finch. The manuscript is now held by the British Library. It was published by Frederic Madden in 1831. Some pieces are listed twice. Two surviving drawings feature a ribbon with the inscription, "MI LADI PRINSIS".
Marmaduke Darrell or Darrel or Dayrell was an English courtier, accountant, and naval administrator.