ANNEX A Case 14 (2015-16) Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA) Statement of Expert Adviser to the Secretary of State that Case 14 Meets Waverley criteria one and three EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Brief Description of item(s) What is it? A two-part cocket (or cokete) seal matrix for the Abbey of Dunfermline during the reign of King Robert I ‘the Bruce’ of Scotland Bruce within a 19th century presentation box What is it made of? Matrices: Copper alloy, box: wood What are its measurements? Each matrix is 55mm in diameter, weight 337g Who is the artist/maker and what are their dates? Unknown, engraving commissioned by Robert the Bruce on 10th July 1322 What date is the item? 1322 What condition is it in? Very good 2. Context Provenance The export licence provides the following provenance: ‘Property of a London gentleman; previously with Ebenezer Henderson, before 1878 (see his Annals of Dunfermline, p.766 where he lists items related to Dunfermline, including these matrices, then in his possession); by inheritance from S. Henderson after 1867; by presentation from the Hon. Sir William Ogilvie, 2nd February 1867; exhibited at the library of the Society of Advocates, early 19th century (possibly by Ogilvie or his father); referred to by Laing (see below) in 1850 as having "been in possession of the writer of the Annals for a great many years". See also a paper label in the 19th century wooden presentation box ‘The Cokete Seal of the Regality of Dunfermline presented to S. Henderson by Hon. W. Oglivie – Cowden’s Muck(h)art 2nd February 1867’. Key literary and exhibition references Exhibited at the Library of the Society of Advocates, early 19th century Exhibited at the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute in Edinburgh, July 1856 See Appendix 3 for a full bibliography 3. Waverley criteria Which of the Waverley criteria does the item meet? (If it is of ‘outstanding significance for the study of some particular branch of art learning or history’ which area of art learning or history). Criteria 1, closely connection with our national history, and criteria 3, of outstanding significance to the study of medieval history and seal matrices. Very briefly why? This pair of seal matrices is of importance to the national history of Scotland. They are connected to Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland (r.1306-1329), and represent one of the few objects directly associated with his reign, a decisive period in the history of the kingdom. These matrices are also testament to the close connection between the kings of Scotland and Dunfermline Abbey, the resting place of numerous members of Scottish royalty including the body of Robert the Bruce himself. Executed to an extremely high standard and of a rare type, these matrices are also valuable to the study of medieval history and seal matrices as a whole. DETAILED CASE 1. Detailed description of item(s) if more than in Executive summary, and any comments. What does it depict? (See Appendix 1 for images) The seal matrix is comprised of two parts, both circular in form with four pierced lugs at each corner for pressing the two together. The obverse (front) matrix has soldered posts fixed into the holes and the reverse matrix has holes to receive the posts. The obverse matrix is engraved with St Margret crowned and holding a sceptre (founder of Dunfermline Abbey) between two shields which bear the arms of Scotland (a lion rampant within a double tressure) and the arms of Dunfermline Abbey (a cross Moline among five martlets). The background is decorated with vine-like foliage. The border is engraved with the inscription, + S’ COKETE REGALITATIS DE DVNFERMELYNN, which translates as ‘Cokete Seal of the Regality of Dunfermline’. The second part, the reverse, is engraved with a central shield depicting the royal arms of Scotland. Surrounding the shield is foliate ornament and the border is engraved with an inscription, +ROBERTVS DEI GRACIA REX SCOTORVM, which translates as ‘Robert, by the Grace of God, King of the Scots’. The objects are contained within a 19th century wooden presentation box with paper labels written with the following text. What does it tell us about that period? These seal matrices would have been used to impress a seal into wax. The wax would have been placed between the two matrices and the device closed in order to impress the engraved design onto it. This would result in a double- sided wax seal for attachment to documents as proof of the authority of Dunfermline Abbey and their endorsement by Robert I ‘the Bruce’. The matrix is a ‘cokete’ or ‘cocket’ type, ‘which was used by local officials for collecting customs duties for the Crown’ (Harvey and McGuiness, 1996, p.41). This seal matrix tells us about the medieval period and the rule of Robert the Bruce. In particular it demonstrates how the administration of finances within 14th century Scotland took place. The double-sided attributions of Dunfermline Abbey on one side and Robert the Bruce on the other indicate that the king sanctioned the abbey to collect customs duties. Crucially this seal matrix also illustrates how Robert the Bruce himself acted out his authority across Scotland and shows his close connection with Dunfermline Abbey itself. The commissioning of the matrix on 10th July 1322 in a declaration for the magistrates of Bruges also shows to us how Robert the Bruce interacted with medieval Flanders and how Dunfermline Abbey was able to prosper as a result. Who made it/painted it/wrote it? Unknown No. of comparable items by the same artist already in the UK, in both public and private collections? None 2. Detailed explanation of the outstanding significance of the item(s). Significance of figures associated with the item(s): maker/client/owners? This seal matrix is associated with Robert I ‘the Bruce’, King of Scotland (r.1306-1329) who had a longstanding connection with Dunfermline Abbey. In 1315 (one year after the Battle of Bannockburn) he gave a charter to the Abbey of Dunfermline by which he granted them land and also all of the new customs from their lands to be acknowledged throughout Scotland and overseas: ‘we give and grant by this our present charter confirm to the foresaid monks [of Dunfermline Abbey] the whole of our new great Customs from all their lands within our kingdom’ (Registrume de Dunfermelyn, No. 346, p. 232-233). This matrix was commissioned directly by Robert the Bruce and its use described in a royal writ dated 10th July 1322 to the Magistrates of Bruges, that they should consider this seal, when shown by Scottish merchants, as the King’s own: ‘ wherever and whenever your merchants with their merchandise, shall present to you in due form the seal of the said religious men, your whole community should be requested…to receive it as our own proper seal’ (Registrum de Dunfermelyn, No. 596, p.415; Mercer, pp.306-307). The object is also connected to Queen Margaret of Scotland (d.1093) who is depicted on the obverse side. Margaret was the wife of Malcolm III of Scotland and founded the Abbey of Dunfermline in 1072, she was later canonised in 1250. Significance of subject-matter? The subject matter shows the royal connection between Dunfermline Abbey and two members of Scottish royalty (Margaret and Robert the Bruce). The inscriptions are also important in declaring these associations. The term ‘REGALITATIS’ in the inscription on the obverse refers to the royal nature of the Abbey and town of Dunfermline. There is only one other cocket seal, which uses this term ‘regalitatis’, the seal for Melrose Abbey, where the heart of Robert the Bruce was buried. Therefore this represents a very rare type of seal matrix. Significance of materials/process/usage? This type of seal matrix illustrates that cocket seals were using royal forms taken from the Great Seals of England and Scotland. John Cherry has reasoned that ‘the concept of a two part seal for customs, such as this, was copied from the customs seals of Edward I of England…Robert the Bruce’s first great Seal was probably engraved in 1306 after his coronation. It was in existence by 1316 and shows him enthroned on one side and riding a horse in full armour on the reverse, which was a Scottish royal equivalent to the English royal Great seal. The general design of the cocket seal…therefore copies the English deputed seals, and the cocket seal may be described as the first Scottish deputed great seal. That is a seal where the powers of the crown are delegated and that is shown by the form of the seal… The first Great Seal of Robert and the cocket seal of Dunfermline are probably by a Scottish engraver. The seal is therefore valuable evidence of Robert the Bruce’s patronage of goldsmiths’ (Cherry, pers. coms, 2015). The matrices are executed to a very high standard and have been engraved with great delicacy, which is evident in the depth and detail of the engraving. Comparison with the small number of surviving cocket seal matrices shows that the Dunfermline matrix is a piece of the highest quality. Is/are the item(s) of local/regional/national importance? The object is of national importance as well as of importance to the history of Dunfermline and its abbey. Summary of related items in public/private ownership in the UK A near contemporary example originates from Melrose abbey and an undated half of a matrix is in the collection with the National Museum of Scotland (NM 30).