This rare piece of 24-carat gold and enamel jewellery was found by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire in December 2019. Our £1.75million grant, along with other funding including public donations, have secured the pendant, ensuring it will not go into private ownership.
While there is no evidence it belonged to the royal family, it is one of only a few surviving objects that commemorate King Henry VIII's life with his devoutly Catholic wife, Katherine of Aragon. The jewel is decorated with a white and red Tudor rose entwined with a pomegranate bush. The pomegranate was the personal emblem of Queen Katherine, representing fertility and her Spanish homeland. The back is decorated with the initials 'H' and 'K' united by a cord.
It’s the earliest surviving example of goldsmithing from Tudor England, aside from religious pieces, and dates to about 1518.
The pendant is currently on display at the British Museum in Room 2: Collecting the world until late summer 2026.