The British Museum has launched a high-profile fundraising campaign to acquire the Tudor Heart, a 24-karat gold pendant from the early reign of Henry VIII. Discovered by amateur metal detectorist Charlie Clarke in Warwickshire in 2019, the pendant features a rose and pomegranate tree—symbols of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon—along with engraved letters 'H' and 'K'. The museum, supported by actor Damian Lewis and historian Mary Beard, aims to raise £3.5 million (about $4.6 million) by early next year to prevent the piece from entering a private collection. The campaign includes a public appeal and the first British Museum Ball on October 18.
This campaign matters because the Tudor Heart is described as the only surviving piece of Tudor jewelry of its kind from Henry VIII's reign, offering a tangible link to a period previously understood only through inventories and paintings. Its acquisition would secure a unique historical artifact for public display and research, enriching the British Museum's collection and national heritage. The high-profile involvement of celebrities and a new fundraising gala also highlights the museum's efforts to engage public support and secure funding for culturally significant treasures.