The Tudor Heart
A new title in the British Museum's longstanding Object in Focus series celebrates the acquisition of the Tudor Heart, a dazzling enamelled gold necklace pendant associated with Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon.
In 2019, a metal detectorist found an object with an extraordinary history in the mud of North Warwickshire. The Tudor Heart, as it has become known, is an impressive 24-carat gold chain with a heart-shaped pendant, richly decorated in enamel with the initials and emblems of Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. The chain, made with over 3 metres of gold wire, is the oldest known example of its type to survive. Both front and back of the pendant display an intriguing message - TOVS IORS, a poignant declaration of an eternal connection.
This accessible and timely new book explores the sensational finding of the artefact and examines the Tudor Heart in detail, including new scientific research into its materials and a discussion of its motifs and inscriptions, as well as its broader historical context.
Research by the British Museum suggests the pendant may have been created for a tournament held in October 1518 to mark the betrothal of their daughter, Princess Mary, to the French heir apparent. Henry frequently commissioned London goldsmiths to create 'costume' jewellery for major celebrations and state occasions which were worn briefly by members of the court to create the impression of great splendour.
This fascinating publication argues that the object is an important witness to Henry’s ambitions in the early years of his long reign, marking his first and longest marriage, commemorating his daughter’s betrothal to the infant son of the king of France, and showing the magnificence of Henry’s court before the arrival of Hans Holbein the Younger changed its expression completely. Readers will learn about a masterfully crafted work using the most luxurious of materials, as well as its place as important historical evidence for pivotal years in English history.
The thrilling discovery of the Tudor Heart, acquired by the British Museum in 2026 after a major public fundraising campaign, gives a glimpse into early Tudor jewellery that had been buried and has now been brought to light.
