The British Museum has successfully raised £3.5 million to acquire a 24-carat gold pendant associated with Henry VIII, following a public appeal that drew support from tens of thousands of contributors. The artefact, discovered by a metal detectorist in a field in Warwickshire, is believed to be the only surviving piece of jewellery connected to the king's 24-year marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
The pendant features the Tudor rose alongside Catherine's pomegranate emblem, as well as a banner inscribed with the old French word “tousiors”, meaning “always”. Museum researchers suggest it may have been created for a tournament in 1518 that marked the betrothal of the couple's two-year-old daughter, Princess Mary, to the French heir apparent. Henry VIII frequently commissioned jewellery from London goldsmiths for major celebrations and state occasions.
The museum launched its campaign in October, aiming to raise the funds by April to keep the piece in its public collection. The National Heritage Memorial Fund awarded £1.75 million, while more than 45,000 people donated a combined £360,000. The actor Damian Lewis also gave his backing to the appeal.
Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, said: “This beautiful survivor tells us about a piece of English history few of us knew, but in which we can all now share. I am looking forward to saying more soon on our plans for it to tour the UK in the future.” He added: “The success of the campaign shows the power of history to spark the imagination and why objects like the Tudor Heart should be in a museum.”
Rachel King, a curator at the museum, described the response as “tremendously touching” and expressed hope that further research might reveal who wore the pendant and how it came to be buried. The marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine was the longest of his six marriages, yet almost no other items from their time together have survived.
