Crafted around 1518, the pendant intertwines a white Tudor rose (Henry's emblem) with Katherine's pomegranate bush, flanked by intertwined "H" and "K" initials bound in white thread. A banner reads "TOVS IORS" (Old French for "always yours"), possibly a playful pun on "toujours." Accompanied by a gold chain and fist-shaped clasp, it exemplifies the opulent costume jewelry Henry commissioned for court tournaments—like one celebrating daughter Mary's betrothal to France's heir.
Few such pieces from Henry's early reign survive, making this a unique window into his 24-year marriage before the infamous 1533 annulment for Anne Boleyn. Curator Rachel King hails its "artistic and archaeological value," unmatched in complexity.
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