“The Tudor Heart” by Rachel King, a curator at the British Museum, delves into the history of the storied jewel.
London—A heart-shaped pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, is now on public display at the British Museum following a successful public fundraising campaign.
To celebrate the acquisition, curator Rachel King has penned a new book, titled “The Tudor Heart,” about the storied treasure as part of the museum’s “Object in Focus” series.
The “Tudor Heart” was rediscovered in 2019 by a metal detectorist who was looking through mud in North Warwickshire, England.
The 24-karat gold, heart-shaped pendant is decorated with enamel, featuring the initials and emblems of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon.
On the front of the pendant is the phrase, “TOVS IORS” in red enamel, believed to be a pun on the French word toujours (“always”), with spacing that makes it sound like “tous (all) yours” when read aloud, the museum said.
The motto is also on the reverse side in black enamel, alongside the initials “H” and “K” in red enamel.
The pendant is suspended on a 75-link gold chain, which is crafted from over three meters (118 inches) of gold wire, and is the oldest known example of its type to survive, said the museum.
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King’s new book shares more information about how the artifact was found and examines the pendant in detail.
It explores new scientific research into its materials and a discussion of its motifs and inscriptions, while also sharing its broader historical context.
King is the museum’s curator of Renaissance Europe and the Waddesdon Bequest, a collection of nearly 300 objects, including jewelry, left to the British Museum in 1898 by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild.
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, said the museum, based on its research.
Henry VIII often asked London goldsmiths to create jewelry for major celebrations and state occasions. These pieces were only worn briefly by members of the court to “create the impression of great splendor,” the museum said.
King’s book posits that the Tudor Heart is “an important witness to Henry’s ambitions in the early years of his long reign.”
It marks his first and longest marriage and commemorates his daughter’s betrothal to the infant son of the king of France.
It also shows the magnificence of his court before the arrival of artist Hans Holbein the Younger, writes King, which changed its style completely.
Henry VIII commissioned the artist to create a mural of the royal family for the Palace of Whitehall in London, as per the National Portrait Gallery.
“The Tudor Heart” by Rachel King will be released next month.
The 64-page book retails for £8 ($11) and will be available on the British Museum’s online shop.
King will also be hosting talks about the book during festivals and at regional bookstores in the U.K.
