[MR] History Blog: Tudor Gold Locket

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble friends,

Today the History Blog reports on attempts by the British Museum to raise
money to buy an elaborate Tudor gold locket and chain thought commemorating
the marriage between Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. [Although the
story calls this a pendant, it was earlier described as a locket, and
photos show that indeed is a hinged locket.]

The locket is decorated with mushy enameled detail relating to Henry and
Katherine. It is suspended from a 17-inch gold chain. Researchers are not
sure if the piece actually belonged to Katherine, or was created as a
tournament prize.

The item was found by a metal detectorist in 2019. The cash value of the
bling is £3.5 million (about $4.7 million). The museum has started a
fund-raising campaign to buy the locket before April 2026.

The story is at https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/74364 .

A story relating to the locket's discovery with more detailed photos is
found at https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66341 .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.