A £150,000 appeal has been launched to secure a rare Bronze Age gold artefact discovered in Staffordshire and keep it in public ownership.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, in Stoke-on-Trent, is seeking to acquire a 3,000-year-old solid gold dress fastener found by a metal detectorist near Ellastone, in East Staffordshire, in 2023. The object – thought to have been made in Ireland – has been declared Treasure under the Treasure Act and independently valued at £150,000.
The museum has until spring 2026 to secure the funding. If successful, the artefact would be displayed in the museum’s archaeology galleries and available for research into Staffordshire’s prehistoric past.
Experts say the object is one of the finest examples of its type ever discovered. It is the first of its kind to be found in Britain for almost 30 years, with only seven comparable examples recorded across England and Wales. Its quality and craftsmanship suggest it was worn by someone of very high status during the Bronze Age.
The acquisition would place the artefact alongside other internationally significant local finds, including the Staffordshire Hoard and the Leekfrith Torcs.
Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance and anti-poverty at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This discovery, alongside the Staffordshire Hoard and the Leekfrith Torcs, confirms Staffordshire as home to some of the most important gold treasures ever found in the country.
“Securing this piece would strengthen the museum’s offer as it reopens following its multi-million-pound transformation and give visitors yet more reason to come and explore our area’s history.”
Joe Perry, curator of local history at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, described the find as highly significant for the region.
He said: “This is the most significant item of Treasure the museum has been offered for nearly 10 years and the first of its kind to be discovered anywhere in Staffordshire.
“Who exactly used this object, and how it came to be buried, may forever be a mystery, but it’s certain that whoever wore it held very high status in their community.
“To find such a rare class of artefact in the county significantly changes our understanding of the region during the Bronze Age. We are hopeful we can acquire this nationally important artefact to keep it within a publicly accessible collection, close to where it was found.”
The fundraising campaign is being led by the Friends of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery. A £60,000 pledge has already been secured from Art Fund, subject to the remainder of the funding being raised. The Friends aim to raise at least £15,000 through public donations, with further bids planned to external funding bodies.
Peter Wilson, chair of the Friends of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, said: “The Friends have supported the acquisition of a number of local finds, with generous contributions from our members and others.
“We are particularly excited about the dress fastener and welcome the significant offer from Art Fund. We hope that anyone who is able to will help us to keep this very special example of our local history, which will complement the Potteries Museum’s already rich archaeological collections.”
If the funds cannot be raised, the fastener may end up in private ownership and be unavailable for education, research or display to the public.
Members of the public can donate online or pick up a donation form at Gladstone Pottery Museum. The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is temporarily closed until April while redevelopment works take place.
