Anglo-Saxon treasures spark nine year-old’s imagination

10 March 2010

Emily Bairstow, currently in Prep 5 class at school in Devon, paid a visit to the Potteries Museum & Art Galley last Sunday, after sending a hand-written letter to The Art Fund last month in support of the campaign.

Deb Klemperer, Principal Collections Officer at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, took Emily around the displays on Sunday – the last day of the hugely successful exhibition – and told her some of the stories behind the Hoard.

Emily commented: "I wanted to give a donation after I had seen the lovely pictures of the treasure. I think it is really important to keep the treasure in Britain and not to let it be sold abroad because it belongs to us. I was really excited to see the treasure, especially the horse and the crosses. Also we learned about the Anglo Saxons in Prep 3 so it was really great to see things I have learned about at school."

Deb Klemperer said: 'It was lovely to meet Emily, and a real pleasure to show her the Hoard, seeing it afresh through her eyes. She is exactly the age I was when I decided that I wanted to be an archaeologist. Perhaps seeing the marvels of the Staffordshire Hoard will set her off along a similar path.”

Emily had addressed her letter to broadcaster Tony Robinson, who is one of the public figures of the campaign, and sent it to The Art Fund’s London headquarters last month. In it she had written “I have given my dad £10 from my money box to save the treasure for England… I hope to see the treasure some day.”

The Art Fund organised the trip in response to her wish, and also forwarded a copy of the note to Tony Robinson, who wrote her a personal reply.

Independent charity The Art Fund is spearheading the campaign to save the Staffordshire Hoard for the West Midlands, so that other children like Emily can also be inspired by its beauty and fascinating history.

Since it opened on 12 February, the exhibition in Stoke has exceeded all expectations. A total of 52,385 people came to see the displays, many queuing for hours to catch a glimpse at the ancient artefacts unearthed from West Midlands soil last summer.

On 13 March, many of the objects will transfer to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, offering locals who missed the displays in November another opportunity to see the Hoard.

The Art Fund urges people to donate at www.artfund.org/hoard or by calling 0844 415 4004.

Image courtesy of Martin Elliott

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