Ashmolean Museum Oxford
by The Bill Skinner Studio
Tax included in product price. Excludes shipping, calculated at checkout
Alfred Jewel Cufflinks designed exclusively for the Ashmolean by The Bill Skinner Studio. A great gift for dads, grooms or anyone who loves to wear a good suit, these attractive gold cufflinks are designed and made by the Bill Skinner Studio as a perfect replica of the beloved Alfred Jewel, arguably the most famous exhibit on display in Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum.
Dating back to the 9th century AD, the stunning Alfred Jewel is thought to have been commissioned by none other than King Alfred the Great (r. 871 – 899), as evidenced by the inscription found around the jewel itself; AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN, translated from the Anglo Saxon to ‘Alfred ordered me to be made’.
Each aspect of the original historic artefact has been painstakingly recreated in these precious designer cufflinks, from the filigreed inscription to the hand enamelled central image, thought by experts to represent the sense of sight, and the finishing dragon’s head which, in the case of the original Alfred Jewel, is widely held to have been an aestel, or pointer and therefore likely held a thin ivory stick. This pointer was used to help early Medieval scholars as they carefully followed dense religious texts. These cufflinks follow in the footsteps of the original, combining the useful with the beautiful for a gift that will be treasured for years to come.
Crafted in brass plated with 14K gold, these delicate enamel decorated cufflinks for men or women are a real special occasion piece ideal as wedding day cufflinks or as a day to day addition for those who will appreciate the opportunity to carry a little slice of history with them wherever they go. Ideal as groom cufflinks, a best man gift, for a special party or event, or simply to finish off a smart work suit, the Bill Skinner Studio Alfred Jewel cufflinks with their intriguing back story will be a real talking point for the wearer to show off.
Unearthed by accident during the ploughing of a field, the Alfred Jewel was discovered in North Petherton, Somerset in 1693. Its famed inscription alongside its location close to the Athelney Abbey from where King Alfred launched his attack against the Great Army of the Vikings, has led historians to believe that this perfectly preserved relic has strong links to the only English king to have been bestowed with the title ‘The Great’. Known to have been a learned man who ordered numerous religious texts to be translated from Latin to Anglo Saxon English, it is thought that King Alfred distributed aestels of this sort throughout his kingdom alongside translated manuscripts.
Exclusive to the Ashmolean Museum.
Materials: 14k gold plated brass and enamel detailing
Dimensions: 2.2 x 1cm each
Shipping to United States of America is now available
Pickup
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.
You will be notified when your order is ready for collection. Please don't come to the museum to collect until you have received the email notification. We ask that you collect your Pickup order from the Ashmolean Shop (Level -1) before 4pm.
Once you have received the collection notification, we will hold your order for you up to 2 weeks. Please ensure that you visit the Museum to collect your order within 2 weeks.
The Online Shop team operates between Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00, so please allow time for us to prepare your order for collection, particularly at busy times of the year. We aim to have your order ready for collection within 72 hours.
Delivery Information
The Online Shop team operates between Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00, so please allow time for us to prepare your order for dispatch before contacting us. We aim to dispatch your purchases within 3-5 working days and you will receive an email notification when your order has been dispatched. In addition, while we endeavour to get your parcel to you as quickly as possible, you may experience delays through your local postal service.
All products excluding Print on Demand prints:
All our UK orders are dispatched via Royal Mail First Class post or DHL, and the shipping cost will be calculated at checkout based on the weight of the items included in the order.
All International orders are dispatched using DHL DAP service. This means that we will only charge you for the cost of shipping. We offer a flat rate of shipping according to the delivery address location. Additional local duties and taxes charges, such as Goods and Services Tax (GST), may be applicable and will be calculated and charged to the recipient during customs clearance. The duties and taxes will be calculated according to the value, Country of Origin, and product type of the order contents, as well as local VAT.
Customs policies vary for each country, so it is advised you contact your local customs office for further information.
Delivery Costs and Timeframes:
UK 1st Class: delivery 2-5 business days from dispatch
- Small – Medium parcel (<1,999g) – shipping cost £5.00
- Medium – Large parcel (2,000g – 5,000g) – shipping cost £8.00
Europe: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays). PO Box addresses cannot be accepted.
- Flat rate (2,000g maximum) – shipping cost £24.00 (does not include taxes and duties)
Rest of World: approximately 3-11 business days from dispatch (customs clearance may cause delays). PO Box addresses cannot be accepted.
- Flat rate (2,000g maximum) – shipping cost £28.00 (does not include taxes and duties)
Weight Restrictions
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.
