Adam Leys



Adam Leys or Leis was a Scottish goldsmith based in Edinburgh. He worked for James V of Scotland and, in the 1530s, repaired and refashioned the Scottish crown jewels known as the Honours of Scotland.

Works
In 1530, Adam Leys made a silver chandelier or candleholder for Edinburgh's town council, probably for St Giles' Kirk. He made a silver chalice for James V's almoner in August 1535. On a larger scale, Leys worked on panels of royal heraldry and a "great image" of Saint Andrew to be carved and cast in lead for Holyrood Palace. Leys added the arms of Mary of Guise beneath the saint for her Royal Entry to Edinburgh.

James V employed Adam Leys to repair and augment the crown of Scotland in 1532 and 1536. The treasurer's accounts mention that he added new "spryngis" in 1532. It is perhaps unclear which elements these were, but the record may refer to new Imperial-style arches. The crown was comprehensively reworked again by John Mosman in January 1540, into the form it has today.

Leys also worked on the Sword of Honour, a gift from Pope Julius II, and the silver sceptre, a gift to James IV from Pope Alexander VI in 1494, which he extended from around 53 to 86 cm and gilded. He seems to have cast new elements moulded from the Italian originals. These works to the Honours were probably in connection with ceremonies planned for James V's bride, Madeleine of Valois. The royal accounts recorded these works in the Scots language as:


 * Item, deliverit to the said James [Achesoun] to Adam Leis, goldsmyth, to mend the sword of honour, thre unce of Inglis grotis
 * Item deliverit to Adam Leys, goldsmyth, xj unce and ane half of silver, attour the auld sceptour of silver weyand xv unce, to mak ane new sceptour of [silver]
 * Item, for gold to gilt the samin [same].

Leys made an engraved silver seal for David Beaton in 1539.