This paper explores how Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth i utilized jewelry in political settings to construct meaning, represent themselves, and negotiate personal and political relationships. Studying the complexities of jewelry’s exchange and circulation between the courts of England and Scotland provides a more nuanced picture of early modern diplomacy and material culture. Jewelry provided a valuable resource from which rulers and diplomats regularly drew when framing their political discourse. Jewels used in diplomacy were as politically meaningful as the gestures and rituals of formal diplomatic audiences and domestic ceremonies. As an object of exchange with a variety of functions, jewelry was absorbent of meaning and memories. Thus, jewelry could forge bonds between those who exchanged it, and also bring about hostilities and complications.

本文探讨了如何玛丽，苏格兰女王和伊丽莎白的我在政治环境中利用珠宝来建构意义，表现自己以及谈判个人和政治关系。研究英格兰和苏格兰法院之间珠宝交流和流通的复杂性，可以更清晰地了解早期现代外交和物质文化。珠宝提供了宝贵的资源，统治者和外交官在制定其政治话语时会定期从中汲取资源。外交上使用的珠宝在政治上与正式外交听众和家庭仪式的举止和仪式一样具有政治意义。作为具有多种功能的交换对象，珠宝吸收了意义和记忆。因此，珠宝可以在交换珠宝的人们之间建立纽带，并带来敌对和麻烦。