Highlights of the loans programme

The British Museum has major holdings of archaeological material found in Britain together with national responsibilities under the Treasure Act and through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. These make the long and short-term loan of such material one of our priorities in relation to the UK, with particular reference to the places with which items have close associations.


Shoulder clasps from the ship-burial at Sutton HooSutton Hoo

Sutton Hoo National Trust Visitor Centre: 15 March – 2 November 2008
Object in focus for 2008: Shoulder clasps from the ship-burial at Sutton Hoo

Since the opening of the Sutton Hoo National Trust Visitor Centre in 2001, the British Museum has provided expertise, long and short-term loans on a regular basis. Object in focus displays now alternate with larger exhibitions. That for 2008, curated from Norwich Castle Museum, is Life and Death of a Kingdom: East Anglia AD 500 – 869 (15 March – 2 November). 


Alcester Tau CrossAlcester Tau Cross

Market Hall, Warwick: 11 June – 1 October 2007
Roman Alcester Heritage Museum: 9 October 2007 – 30 April 2008

This cross head in the shape of a 'T' (the Greek letter 'tau') was discovered in the garden of a rectory in Warwickshire at the beginning of the twentieth century. It is dated to the early 11th century AD and is an example of the finest Anglo-Saxon ivory carving. It would originally have been fixed to a wooden staff to form a crozier, the powerful symbol for a senior official in the Church. 


Staffordshire Moorland PanStaffordshire Moorlands Pan

Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum: 5 January 2007 – 27 April 2008
British Museum: 24 July – 26 October 2008

Jointly owned by the British Museum, the Potteries Museum, Stoke on Trent and Tullie House, Carlisle.

This pan was found in the Staffordshire Moorlands in England. Below the rim is an inscription encircling the pan which names the four forts in the western sector of Hadrian's Wall. It is possible that the pan was made for a soldier as a souvenir of his military service on the Wall.


Coenwulf mancusCoenwulf mancus

Norwich Castle Museum: 11 July – 18 October 2006
British Library: 24 November 2006 – 25 February 2007
Bedford Museum: 21 July – 16 December 2007

Purchased in 2006 by the British Museum with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund, the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity and the British Museum Friends, as well as a number of individual donors. The coin offers an insight into the expression of royal power and monetary developments in England during Coenwulf's reign (AD 796 – 821).

 

Images from top:

Shoulder clasps from the ship burial at Sutton Hoo (Anglo-Saxon, early 7th century AD. From Mound 1, Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England); Tau cross head (Anglo-Saxon, early 11th century AD. From Alcester, Warwickshire, England); Enamelled bronze pan (Roman, 2nd Century AD, Staffordshire Moorlands, England); Gold mancus of Coenwulf (Kingdom of Mercia, England, AD 796-821).