Robert Amadas

Robert Amadas was a 16th century court goldsmith who became the richest of his profession at the time in the country.

Born in a family of a London goldsmith, Amadas was trained by his father becoming a freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1492. In the subsequent period he was named one of the Company's Wardens (1511, 1515) and eventually Prime Warden (1524, 1530).
Among his clients were royalty and Amadas was known as the “chief supplier of gold and silver to the King and his courtiers”. In 1526 he was appointed Master of the Mint which was the highest officer in the Royal Mint, the body permitted to manufacture or mint the coins of the United Kingdom. He was also appointed the keeper of Henry VIII’s jewels from 1526 to 1532.

Amadas was married to Elizabeth Bryce, a wealthy heiress and lady at the royal court.