An ornate Au pendent and chain reveal by metal detectorists in Warwickshire , UK , in 2019 has now been unveil by the British Museum . The kernel - shaped piece is embellished with red and white floral designs appearing to depict the join between King Henry VIII and his first married woman Katherine of Aragon .
Measuring roughly5 centimeters(2 inches ) across , the pendant is beautify with a Tudor rose motive and pomegranate bush , as well as the lettering “ TOVS IORS ” – a punning on the French for “ always ” . The turnabout testify large alphabetic character H and K , believe to be come to to the imperial yoke .
go steady back to between 1509 and 1533 CE , the intricately designed necklace is really mean to have been made rapidly , potentially worn by participants of an issue or given as a prize .
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The necklace also features an elaborate clasp with gloved hand design. Image credit: Birmingham Museums Trust,CC BY 2.0
Discovery of the piece was account to thePortable Antiquities Scheme(PAS ) , a British Museum managed brass that deals with public found archaeological discoveries . In turn , Historic England were meet to carry out an archaeological dig of the land site .
“ This beautiful chandelier is a thrilling find giving us a tangible connection to Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon and enrich our understanding of the Royal Court at the time , ” Duncan Wilson , Chief Executive Historic England , allege of the find in astatement . But despite well attempt , the excavation failed to turn up any additional discoveries .
The piece is now being showcased by the British Museum after the release of thePAS Annual Report for 2021 . Of 45,581 recorded finds have in the report , 1,085 are relegate asTreasures .
To be considered a “ hoarded wealth ” under the Treasure Act 1996 , an point must be a metal object which has more than 10 percent of its exercising weight made up of precious metal . The determination must also be at least 300 age old at the escort of find .
“ It is wonderful to see archaeology and metal - detecting across the commonwealth thriving – aid to reveal treasures which deepen our reason of our shared national history , ” Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay , the Arts and Heritage Minister , said of the Treasure Act .
As many as 96 pct of the finds in the PAS 2021 theme were ground by civilians and their metal detector , as opposed to archaeologist . The most point were found in Gloucestershire , Suffolk , and Lincolnshire .
