Ashmolean Museum Oxford
by The Bill Skinner Studio
Designed exclusively for the Ashmolean Museum by celebrated jewellery designer Bill Skinner, this stunning gold brooch is inspired by the Alfred Jewel. Thought to have been commissioned by Anglo Saxon king Alfred the Great during his 9th century AD reign, the Alfred Jewel is one of the museum’s most beloved historic artefacts.
Crafted to closely resemble the famed royal relic, this designer brooch has been cast in glittering 14K gold plated brass and features a genuine freshwater pearl, a luxurious addition to the original design.
The central image, a figure believed by historians to represent the sense of sight, is hand enamelled and protected by a clear optical acrylic lens. Just like the iconic Alfred Jewel itself, this brooch is ringed with the openwork inscription AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN, which translates to ‘Alfred ordered me to be made’. The brooch is completed with a gold-plated dragon’s head-like design at its base while a secure brooch pin with locking C clasp keeps it firmly in place, giving the owner peace of mind when wearing this precious jewellery item out and about.
A beautiful addition to a jacket or cardigan and ideal for fastening a scarf, this unique craftsman made gold brooch with pure white pearl detail is the perfect gift for the most stylish of history buffs and will be instantly recognisable to Ashmolean visitors, who will undoubtedly love what is widely regarded as among the most treasured pieces in the museum’s vast collection. Quite unlike any other piece of commercially available jewellery, this brooch is a real talking point and is bound to be treasured for a lifetime.
Unearthed in 1693 during the ploughing of a field, what is now known as the Alfred Jewel was discovered in North Petherton, Somerset, just a few short miles from Athelney Abbey from where King Alfred the Great (r. 871 – 899) launched his counter attack against the Great Army of the Vikings. The Alfred Jewel is believed to be the handle of an Anglo Saxon aestel, or pointer, used to help readers follow the text in religious manuscripts. It’s generally thought that the dragon’s head portion of the Alfred Jewel would have held the aestel’s stick-like pointer, likely made of ivory and held in place by a rivet. Made of filigreed gold, the Alfred Jewel features a delicate cloisonné enamel decoration, in turn protected by a slice of rock crystal, or quartz. Over a thousand years old, the Alfred Jewel features an inscription that indicates that the aestel was probably commissioned by King Alfred himself, the only British Monarch to have been honoured with the title ‘the Great’.
Materials: 14k gold-plated brass, enamel, & acrylic with a fresh water pearl
Dimensions: approx 5cm length
Our Pickup service is a convenient way for you to order online and collect your purchase in person at the Museum. Simply select the Pickup option at checkout.
The Ashmolean Museum will be closed on 24, 25, 26 December 2024, and 1 January 2025. You will not be able to collect your order on these days.
Christmas Delivery Dates
We recommend placing your order as early as possible to avoid disappointment. These are the recommended last dates for placing your order:
UK delivery – 17 December 2024
International delivery – 11 December 2024 (delivery times may be affected by customs clearance)
Due to the Christmas holidays, orders placed from Friday 20 December 2024 onwards will be dispatched after Monday 4 January 2025.
We offer FREE delivery on UK-only orders over £50 (this does not apply to the Print on Demand service). FREE delivery will be calculated based on the total value of the order after discounts have been applied.
UK 1st Class: delivery 2-5 business days from dispatch
Europe: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays)
Rest of World: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays)
Please be aware that orders to International addresses may be subject to local customs duty or taxes. You will need to pay any additional charges for customs clearance, charges include local VAT and duty based on the value and origin of the product.
There is 5kg weight restriction for UK orders, and a 2kg weight restriction for International orders. If your order exceeds this weight, please contact the Online Shop team so that we can organise a quote for special delivery: onlineshop@ashmus.ox.ac.uk
Further information on our delivery options and returns policy can be found in Shipping & Returns.