British Museum in bid to raise £3.5m for gold Tudor pendant

The British Museum in London has launched a major fundraising campaign to acquire a “spectacular” gold pendant linked to the 24-year marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.

The “Tudor Heart” pendant was discovered in 2019 by a metal detector in a field in Warwickshire, and subsequently reported under the Treasure Act 1996.

It bears the intertwined initials “H” and “K” on one side, and a Tudor rose and Katherine’s pomegranate symbol above a banner reading tousiors, the old French word for “always”, on the other.

The piece is one of just a tiny number of surviving artefacts that celebrate the royal couple’s ill-fated marriage, which ended in 1533 when Henry split from the Catholic Church to divorce Katherine and marry Anne Boleyn.

The museum has been given the opportunity to purchase the artefact to stop it entering a private collection. It hopes to raise £3.5m by April 2026 and has called for public support to achieve this goal.  

The campaign is supported by the actor Damian Lewis, who played Henry VIII in the TV series Wolf Hall.

In a statement, the museum said: “Almost no other objects survive that celebrate Henry and Katherine’s relationship, most having been lost over time. The Tudor Heart therefore acts as an important historical witness, showing both the luxury of Henry VIII’s earlier reign and the strength of their union before it was ultimately annulled in 1533.”

Research by the British Museum suggests the pendant may have been created for a tournament held in October 1518 to mark the betrothal of the couple’s daughter, Princess Mary, to the French heir apparent.

According to the museum, Henry VIII frequently commissioned London goldsmiths to create jewellery for major celebrations and state occasions which were worn briefly by members of the court to create the impression of great splendour.

The campaign has been kickstarted by a donation of £500,000 from the Julia Rausing Trust.

“The Tudor Heart is perhaps one of the most incredible pieces of English history to have ever been unearthed,” said Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum. “Support will ensure that this unique and beautiful treasure is secured for the nation, so that it can be enjoyed by and inspire generations to come.”

Lewis added: “The Tudor Heart is a beautiful piece of our history, shedding a light onto the court of Henry not previously seen. Your support will help the British Museum save this piece for the nation and ensures our history remains on view for generations to come, not hidden away in a private collection.”

The Tudor Heart will be on view in Gallery 2 at the museum until April 2026. The public campaign is now live.