Dr Rachel King

The Tudor Heart: Love, Power, and a Royal Discovery

Description

In 2019, an amateur metal detectorist made an extraordinary discovery in a Warwickshire field: a 24-carat gold pendant now known as the Tudor Heart. Engraved with the intertwined initials of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon and adorned with the Tudor rose and pomegranate, this remarkable jewel had lain hidden for over 500 years. 

Join Dr Rachel King as she brings this once-in-a-lifetime find to life. Through vivid imagery and expert analysis, she will uncover the craftsmanship, symbolism and meaning behind a pendant that speaks to both personal devotion and royal authority. 

Offering a rare glimpse into the splendour of the early Tudor court, this fascinating talk reveals how a single object can illuminate one of history’s most powerful and complex partnerships. 

About the Curator

Rachel King

Dr Rachel King

Dr Rachel King has been Curator of Renaissance Europe and the Waddesdon Bequest at the British Museum since 2019. She previously held positions at the Burrell Collection, National Museums Scotland, the Bavarian National Museum, Museum Fuenf Kontinente, the Neue Pinakothek, Munich, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Dr King is a career curator, whose focus has been the applied arts of early modern Europe for over 20 years, bringing historical and art historical knowledge to the public in accessible and modern ways.

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