British Museum acquires Tudor Heart

The British Museum’s campaign to raise £3.5m ($4.7m) to acquire the unique Tudor Heart gold and enamel pendant commemorating the marriage of Henry VIII to Katherine of Aragon has reached its goal.

The gold pendant is engraved with a Tudor rose representing Henry VIII entwined with a pomegranate representing Katherine of Aragon decorated in red and white enamel. It features an H and a K on the reverse side, also enameled in red and white. A banner with the lettering + TOVS + IORS (the French “toujours” meaning “always”) is on both sides of the pendant. It was found with a thick gold link chain with a gold enamel gloved hand at one end functioning as a clasp. The total weight of the set is 317 grams of 24K gold.

British Museum researchers believe it was commissioned to celebrate the betrothal of Henry and Katherine’s daughter Princess Mary, then two years old, to Francis, Dauphin of France, then eight months old, in 1518. This is why it emphasizes love and marriage, and specifically the marriage of Henry and Katharine. The betrothal was called off in 1521, and Henry rousted Katharine from his court in 1531, ultimately divorcing her in 1533 to marry Anne Boleyn.

The Tudar Heart was discovered by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire on December 13th, 2019, a very fortunate Friday the 13th. It was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and declared Treasure. A valuation committee assessed its market value at £3.5m. Any museum that wished to acquire this unique jewel had to pay that sum to be divided between the metal detectorist who made the discovery and the owner of the land where it was unearthed.

The fundraising campaign was launched last October with a deadline of April 2026, but they hoped to meet the goal by Valentine’s Day, to go with the motif of the heart-shaped pendant. Because of the high cost of the piece, both in gold alone and its priceless historical value, the museum appealed to the public for donations and to trusts and art organizations for grants. The campaign got a huge response. Celebrities like Damian Lewis, who portrayed Henry VIII in the BBC’s Wolf Hall series, promoted the appeal. Ultimately, small donations from more than 45,000 members raised £360,000, The National Heritage Memorial Fund contributed £1.75m, The Julia Rausing Trust £500,000, the Art Fund £400,000, and The American Friends of the British Museum £300,000.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our campaign,” [Museum director Nicholas] Cullinan said.

“This beautiful survivor tells us about a piece of English history few of us knew, but in which we can all now share.”

Simon Thurley, chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, said: “The Tudor Heart is an extraordinary insight into the culture of Henry VIII’s court, and I am delighted that Memorial Fund support will enable it to go on public display.”

The museum hopes to formally include the pendant in the collection later this year, and has plans for it to tour the UK in the future.

* This article was originally published here