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A silver Casket believed to have belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots comes to Kirkcudbright.

A pure silver casket, measuring just 11x21x14cm, believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots and which was acquired by National Museums Scotland in 2022, sits in lone splendour on the upper floor of Kirkcudbright Galleries. The purpose designed display includes images of artworks from the Royal Collection Trust, the National Galleries of Scotland, East Ayrshire Council and National Museums Scotland, all telling the story of Mary during her early life in France and Scotland when she is believed to have possessed the casket.

Cllr Maureen Johnstone, Chair of Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee for Dumfries and Galloway Council said:

“We are thrilled this wonderful object has come to Dumfries and Galloway. The region’s connection with this fascinating Queen is a strong one, not least because Mary spent her last night in Scotland at Dundrennan. It is exciting to know that the casket now sits just a few miles from that evocative location.”

The display is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller 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 Programme is to bring world class objects to regional museums where they can be enjoyed by local audiences, so we are delighted to support the display of this fascinating piece of Scottish history in Kirkcudbright.”

An iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver, very little of which survives, even in France. It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary has kept it preserved for over 450 years. 

For three centuries, it was owned by the family of the Dukes of Hamilton, following its acquisition, around 1674, by Anne, Duchess of Hamilton. According to a handwritten note stored with it from the late 17th century, she bought the casket, previously owned by Mary, Marchioness of Douglas, on the understanding that it had belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots.

The note records the belief that this is the casket which 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 contained what have become known as the Casket Letters. These love poems and letters, allegedly from Mary to her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, implicated them both in a conspiracy to murder her second husband, Lord Darnley.

It is thought that the casket was 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 time list multiple examples of precious jewellery 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 discovered in the hands of Lord Bothwell’s servant. It was brought before the Scottish Privy Council where its lock was struck off to reveal its contents. Precisely what these were at that moment is unknown. However, a year later, when the Earl of Moray dramatically produced the same casket at Westminster, it now contained the damning Casket Letters.

The authorship of the letters remains a subject of debate, but it is widely thought that they were doctored. Following the hearing at Westminster, Mary remained in English captivity for 19 years, until she was executed in 1587 for her involvement in the Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth I, and place Mary on the English throne.

Cllr Lynne Davis, Vice Chair of Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee for Dumfries and Galloway Council said:

“Working with National Museums Scotland allows Kirkcudbright Galleries to bring amazing, nationally important objects to Dumfries and Galloway, and we are excited to continue the partnership with this stunning highlight loan.”

The casket was acquired for the nation in 2022 thanks to support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, the Scottish Government and several trusts, foundations and individual donors.

Dr Anna Groundwater, Principal Curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland has been quoted talking about the casket:

“One of Scotland’s national treasures, this extraordinary casket has been venerated as a relic of Mary, Queen of Scots for centuries, and I’m delighted that visitors to Kirkcudbright Galleries have the opportunity to see it up close. Beyond its connections to one of Scotland’s most famous figures, it is a rare and spectacular piece of historic silver in its own right. This highlight loan is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared with museums across Scotland.”

The casket is on display at Kirkcudbright Galleries from until 27 April 2025 and is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. The Galleries is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 3.30pm and Sunday 11.30am to 3.30pm. Entry is free. See the website for festive opening hours - www.kirkcudbrightgalleries.org.uk