Tudor treasure: Henry VIII's gold love pendant goes on display at the British Museum

"The 24-carat "Tudor Heart" pendant was discovered by a metal detectorist on a farm in rural Warwickshire on Friday 13th December 2019, so unlucky for some, but very lucky for the discoverer. After being reported by the discoverer as required, it was valued at £3.5 million and declared official treasure under the Treasure Act. The law ensures both fair reward for finders and landowners, and that important discoveries remain available for public study and display."

"The heart-shaped pendant is not just of value as a jewel, but also historically, as it offers a rare glimpse into Henry VIII's marriage to Katherine of Aragon, uniting the Tudor rose with Katherine's pomegranate emblem beneath a banner inscribed tousiors - old French for "always." Made of gold, it features a 75-link chain, with a gold-and-enamel hand emerging from a cloud at its centre, originally connecting it to the central pendant, which bears the letters H and K engraved onto it."

"Of course, things didn't work out for them in the end, and hardly any objects that celebrate Henry and Katherine's relationship have survived, either lost over time or deliberately destroyed as the political situation made keeping them dangerous for the owners. The Tudor Heart, therefore, acts as an important historical witness, showing both the luxury of Henry VIII's earlier reign and t"

The 24-carat Tudor Heart pendant was found by a metal detectorist in rural Warwickshire on 13 December 2019 and declared treasure valued at £3.5 million. The Treasure Act ensures fair rewards for finder and landowner and keeps significant finds available for public study and display. The British Museum holds first refusal and has launched a fundraising campaign to acquire the pendant for the nation. The heart-shaped pendant unites the Tudor rose with Katherine of Aragon's pomegranate and bears a banner inscribed tousiors, meaning "always." The gold pendant features a 75-link chain and an enamel hand and bears the letters H and K.

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