The Mary, Queen of Scots Casket - Aberdeen Art Gallery

One of Scotland’s national treasures, this extraordinary casket has been venerated as a relic of Mary, Queen of Scots for centuries. This Highlight Loan is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared with museums and galleries across Scotland.

The rare silver casket was acquired for the nation in 2022 for £1.8 million thanks to support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, the Scottish Government and several trusts, foundations and individual donors. 

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. 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.