Welcome to the historical database of the
Incorporation of Goldsmiths.
To use the system, please click on the search link above to go to the login window and click the register button if you are a first time user. The database is completely free to use, all you have to do is register.This database brings together much of the known information on goldsmiths of Edinburgh from the twelfth century to the twentieth century. The majority of records date from the sixteenth century up to 1986, with lapsed customers of the office up to 2011.There are over seven thousand biographies and numerous illustrations of makers' marks. It will enable the user to match marks on pieces of silver or gold with the maker of that item, and provide biographical information on that maker. You can search by makers' mark, by the name of the maker, and specifically for a keyword appearing in the records. Results are listed in order of relevance.
The database also now includes information on Glasgow goldsmiths from the surviving records of the Glasgow Assay Office (opened in 1819 and closed in 1964).
The database also includes brief biographies of many provincial Scottish gold and silversmiths. In time, images will be added to these biographies.
Please check on the 'WHAT'S NEW' section below to read about new material being added to the database.
This database is based on information mostly found in the archives of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths. All records and research have been input to the database by the Archivist of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths, Elspeth Morrison.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The creation of the database would not have been possible were it not for the research and transcription of the records by Henry Steuart Fothringham, whose help on this project has been invaluable. He has been responsible for many of the biographies and has attributed marks to many of the early makers whose details were absent from the surviving records. Our thanks go to the National Museums of Scotland who have allowed us to use photographs taken from the Silver, Made in Scotland exhibition in 2008, and from their archives. Our thanks are due to Perth Museum and Gallery and Dumfries Museum who have generously allowed us to use images from their collections. Thanks also to the auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull and Woolley & Wallis who have kindly given us many examples of provincial Scottish marks from recent sales.
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