Handle of Mary, Queen of Scots's Coffin 1822

James Storer etched this image of the handle of Mary Queen of Scots's coffin. Here, we find potent symbols of sovereignty and devotion. The crown, a universal emblem of royalty, surmounts the handle, declaring Mary’s queenly status even in death. Intertwined keys, symbols of the power to unlock or bind, are tipped with crosses. Consider the keys of Saint Peter, entrusted with the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. These crosses evoke not only Mary’s Christian faith but also a deeper connection to spiritual authority. The heart, pierced yet central, can be read in the Freudian sense as a symbol of love and suffering, an echo of the collective memory of Mary's turbulent life. Notice how the symbols, though rooted in tradition, transform. The crown, once solely a sign of earthly power, now points towards divine legitimacy. Keys, more than mere instruments, signify spiritual dominion. These aren't static emblems but dynamic symbols forever shaped and reshaped across time.