John Mosman (goldsmith)

John Mosman or Mossman was a Scottish goldsmith based in Edinburgh who served the royal court and was involved in gold mining.

[3] One of John Mosman's early recorded works was a set of silver clasps for the king's haubergeon, a piece of chain-mail armour in February 1534.

[9] In May 1538 the fool of Madeleine of Valois was bought a green velvet gown and Mosman made her a "chaffron" of gilded silver.

[11] He made a "chafferoun" of gold in "Paris work" or fashion for one of the daughters of James V, probably Lady Jean Stewart.

[17] Mary, Queen of Scots gave this fur with a gold head and feet to Mademoiselle Rallay in December 1561 to mend and re-line, described as an item to wear around her neck.

[22] James V was also fond of hawking, and Mosman fashioned a silver clam shell as a luxurious accessory to hold the meat used to train the birds.

[23] He made a second clam shell for hawk meat in December 1541 with another, half the size, for the king's tooth powder.

The horses were equipped with elaborate harnesses and cover cloths, fitted with buckles, and decorative thistles and lion's heads, which Mosman gilded using mercury.

[27] He was not an exclusive maker or supplier of jewelry to the Scottish royal court, the king frequently bought pieces from the goldsmith Thomas Rynd, especially for the New Year's Day gifts which he distributed to courtiers.

[40] Mosman also worked for Regent Arran and was rewarded in May 1550 for his "diligent labours" in making the gold chain presented to "Fumet", François de Seguenville-Fumel, sieur de Thors, the French envoy who brought the peace treaty at the end of the war with England known as the Rough Wooing.

[42] Barbara Hamilton died in 1577, and her effects included a locket or "tablet" which opened with leaves on which the inscription "Obsecro Te Sancta Maria Mater Dei Amen" was engraved and highlighted with white enamel.

[44] John Mosman was appointed in September 1556 with Michael Gilbert, William Ure, and Robert Rynd to collect and oversee contributions from members of Edinburgh incorporation of goldsmiths to a tax levied by Mary of Guise for the defence of the Scottish borders.

[45] In October 1558, he provided a gold chain for Monsieur Delaforce, the captain of the ship that carried diplomats who had negotiated Mary's marriage to the Dauphin.