© Yorkshire Museum
The central fields depict animals
Found by metal detectorists in Upper Poppleton, York
One of the star attractions at Yorkshire Museum is the Middleham Jewel, which the Art Fund helped the museum to acquire in 1992. Dating from around 1460, this gold and sapphire pendant, displaying the Holy Trinity and scenes from the Nativity, was saved for the nation as a result of a national campaign and public appeal.
One of the more unusual items in the Yorkshire museum is a 9th-century fitting in the form of an animal's head. The large tongue protruding from the ram-like head creates an attachment loop, while the two ears or horns function as sockets. Blue glass eyes give the creature a terrifying stare.
