Matthew Auchinleck facts for kids
Matthew Auchinleck was a very skilled Scottish goldsmith. He worked for important people like James IV of Scotland and his wife, Margaret Tudor. A goldsmith is a craftsman who makes beautiful things from gold and silver.
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A Royal Goldsmith
Matthew Auchinleck, also known as Matho Auchlek, came from a family of goldsmiths. His father, also named Matho Auchinleck, was a goldsmith too. They even had a relative, John Auchlek, who worked as a goldsmith for the royal family.
Their main business was in Stirling, a town in Scotland. In 1503, they opened another shop and workshop in Edinburgh. This type of shop was called a "buith" back then.
Working for the King's Mint
The Auchinleck family also helped with the royal mint. The mint was the place where coins were made for the country. In 1507, Matthew and his father were put in charge of the mint by King James IV. They had to keep careful records of all the money and materials.
Helping Royal Alchemists
In 1508, Matthew Auchinleck made special silver parts for the king's alchemist, Alexander Ogilvy. An alchemist was like an early scientist who tried to turn ordinary metals into gold. They also tried to find magical substances.
The "Fifth Element"
Alexander Ogilvy used special equipment for his experiments at Stirling Castle. Matthew made a silver "bos hed" for a "stellatour," which was a type of distillation equipment. The alchemists had a furnace at the castle. They were trying to create something called the "quinta essentia," or the "fifth element." This was believed to be a very pure and powerful substance. Matthew even supplied materials like "burnt silver" for these experiments.
Crafting for the Crown
Matthew Auchinleck did many important jobs for the king. He regularly fixed and gilded (covered with a thin layer of gold) the king's silver plates and even his armour. He also created new items for the royal household.
Royal Treasures
Some of the items Matthew made included jugs, special containers for holy objects called reliquaries, and candlesticks. In 1503, he repaired the king's crown for a royal wedding. This shows how trusted and skilled he was, as the crown was one of the most important royal treasures.
