A rare 3,000-year-old gold artefact discovered in rural Staffordshire is set to go on public display in Stoke-on-Trent after a £150,000 fundraising campaign secured it for the county.
The solid gold object, believed to be a Bronze Age dress fastener, was uncovered by a metal detectorist near Ellastone in 2023 and has since been officially declared Treasure.
Experts say it is the first find of its type in Britain for almost three decades, with only seven comparable examples known across England and Wales.
In January Daily Focus reported that an appeal had been launched to keep the treasure in the county.
The artefact has now been acquired by the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery through a combination of public donations and major heritage grants.
Support for the appeal came from the Friends of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery alongside funding from Art Fund, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Museum bosses say the discovery ranks alongside the Staffordshire Hoard and the Leekfrith Torcs among the county’s most significant archaeological finds.
The fastener will eventually form part of the museum’s displays when the Potteries Museum reopens in spring 2027 following a major refurbishment programme.
Until then, outreach events and activities linked to Staffordshire’s Bronze Age history will be held across the area, with physical and digital replicas of the object also planned for public events later this year.
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 will strengthen the museum’s offer while it undergoes its multi-million-pound transformation and give visitors even more reason to explore our area’s history.”
Joe Perry, curator of local history at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, said: “Made from solid gold and carefully worked, this would not have been an everyday item.
“Objects like this were worn as visible displays of wealth and status, and it is likely the person who wore it belonged to the highest levels of Bronze Age society.
“This is the most significant item of Treasure the museum has acquired for almost a decade and the first of its kind to be discovered anywhere in Staffordshire.
“To find such a rare artefact in the county changes our understanding of the region during the Bronze Age. We are incredibly pleased that this nationally important object will remain in a publicly accessible collection following a successful fundraising campaign.”
Peter Wilson, chair of the Friends of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, said: “The Friends are delighted that this important find has been saved for local people and visitors to see and enjoy, and thank everyone who supported our appeal.”
Aysha Afridi, Interim Director (Museums), Arts Council England, said: “We’re delighted to support The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent in acquiring the remarkable 3,000-year-old solid gold object – believed to be a dress fastener – with generous support through the Arts Council England / V&A Purchase Fund.
“This acquisition is testament to the continuing impact of the Fund, our colleagues at the V&A’s expertise and support, and the value of Arts Council England investment across the nation. We’re excited to see how this extraordinary find will inspire deeper engagement with Stoke’s rich history.”
A Festival of Treasure is planned next spring to coincide with the reopening of the museum and the artefact’s first public display.
