British Museum calls for purchase of Tudor Heart Gold –

The British Museum has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase a unique gold and enamel heart-shaped pendant discovered by a metal detector in 2019 to commemorate the marriage of Henry VIII to his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Costing £3.5 million ($4.7 million), funds need to be raised by April 2026 to prevent the pendant from entering a private collection.

The pendant is made of 24K gold and is a red and white enamel locket decorated with the Tudor rose and pomegranate, the coat of arms of Catherine of Aragon and the initials “H” and “K” on one side, wrapped with a ribbon on the other. Banners at the bottom of both sides are engraved with the red enamel words + TOVS + IORS (French “toujours” meaning “forever”).

The locket hangs from a 75-link chain that is 17.2 inches long. It is held in place by a gloved hand with a clenched fist and has a white enameled cuff decorated with black dots, reminiscent of mink. The shape of the cloud above the cuff of the glove suggests that it represents the diving hand of God, symbolizing love, while the chain and hands are also made of 24K gold.

Based on Lombard writing style and decorative design, British Museum researchers determined that the locket was made after 1509 and before 1530. Analysis of the metal and enamel also confirmed that they date back to the early 16th century. Henry married Catherine in 1509, expelled her from the court in 1531, and divorced her in 1533, so this date range coincides with a time when courtiers were showing off their loyalty to the king and queen.

Historical research led by the British Museum has found that it may have been created to celebrate the engagement of two-year-old Princess Mary to eight-month-old French dauphin Francis in 1518. The engagement was to secure the Treaty of London, a non-aggression pact signed by England and France in October 1518 and later ratified by other European powers. In 1521, when England formed an alliance with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the engagement was rejected, and Charles V subsequently declared war on France. The following year, Mary, now 6 years old, became engaged to her 22-year-old cousin, the Holy Roman Emperor. That engagement eventually fell through.

The Tudor Heart Pendant not only commemorates Henry and Catherine’s love, ambition and Catherine’s importance as Henry’s first queen, it also reveals a little-known part of Mary’s story.

A powerful testament to a pivotal period in English history, the Tudor Heart Pendant offers a glimpse into the splendor of Henry VIII’s early court and celebrates chivalry, love and dynastic hope.

To donate to the Tudor Heart Takeover Appeal, please click here.