Ashmolean Museum Oxford
by The Bill Skinner Studio
Tax included in product price. Excludes shipping, calculated at checkout
An exclusive Ashmolean Museum piece designed for us by renowned jewellery maker Bill Skinner, this beautiful Alfred Jewel stick pin adds a touch of character to any outfit. A realistic replica of one of the museum’s most iconic artefacts, this pin can be worn in a variety of ways. While it looks great on the lapel of a jacket or pinned to a cardigan or a simple dress as a brooch, the Alfred Jewel stick pin can also be used as a practical and attractive adornment on a scarf or even as a tie pin, making it a great gift for any style conscious history fan.
Believed to have been commissioned by the Anglo Saxon King Alfred the Great, who reigned from 871 to 899, the Alfred Jewel is the centrepiece of the Ashmolean Museum’s English archaeological collection – generally considered to be among the finest in the world. Ploughed up in 1693 in a field in North Petherton, Somerset, close to Athelney Abbey, the site from where Alfred launched his counterattack against the Great Army of the Vikings, the Alfred Jewel is engraved with the words ‘AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN’. This translates to ‘Alfred ordered me to be made’, strongly connecting this find with the only British monarch to ever have been bestowed with the title of ‘the Great’.
An ornate piece of goldsmith’s work, the filigreed Alfred Jewel is formed around a central cloisonné enamel figure, thought perhaps to represent the sense of sight. This enamel work is protected by a fine slice of rock crystal. Finishing the jewel, and leading experts to believe that its purpose was most likely as the handle of an aestel, or pointer, is an ornate dragon’s head. The dragon’s mouth forms a socket that would have been ideal for holding an ivory stick, used to follow the words of the religious texts which Alfred the Great, famed as a learned man, ordered to be translated from Latin to Anglo Saxon.
A true-to-life replica of the beloved Ashmolean relic, the Bill Skinner Studio’s Alfred Jewel stick pin is crafted in brass with a luxurious 14k gold plating. The central figure is recreated in enamel, protected by a clear optical acrylic lens and the dragon’s head detail, also cast in gold-plated brass, is finished with a genuine freshwater pearl, a lovely finishing touch to this eye-catching piece of jewellery. The stick of this statement pin is finished with a secure push-on pin protector, keeping the pin in place and its sharp end safely covered.
Exclusive to the Ashmolean Museum.
Materials: 14k gold plated brass and enamel
Dimensions: Full length measures approx. 10.5cm long. Jewel section measures approx 3.5cm long including a fresh water pearl.
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.
