Rare and never before seen Anglo-Saxon objects from the British Museum will be returning home to North East England to form part of the Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum, opening in February 2023.
A rare and elaborate glass beaker, square headed brooch and shield boss will be highlights of the new visitor experience. As Sutton Hoo revealed the richness of the Anglo-Saxons in death, these objects will tell the story of the life of a 7th century Royal Court and the people that defined the Golden Age of Northumbria.
One of the 20th century’s most remarkable archaeological finds: The Great Hall of Gefrin (now known as Yeavering) - the Summer Palace of the kings and queens of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria, was discovered through aerial photography in 1949; excavated between 1953-1962, and reveals the fascinating history of the people that lived and travelled there from across Europe. This period is on the cusp of written history, so the works of Bede are relied on heavily to understand how people lived in and around the court. Ad Gefrin will be revealing this story for the first time in a dedicated museum.
Objects such as the Castle Eden Claw Beaker, a highlight of the British Museum’s early medieval collections, will return to the North East for the first time in 32 years. It is one of the best-preserved pieces of Anglo-Saxon glasswork to survive and demonstrates the status associated with feasting in this period.
The objects have been chosen in collaboration between Dr. Chris Ferguson, Director of Visitor Experience at Ad Gefrin and Dr. Sue Brunning, Curator of European Early Medieval Collections at the British Museum, to showcase the world of the inhabitants of Early Medieval Yeavering. These include a Pseudo Roman Coin Pendant, Silver Wrist Clasp and high-quality Replica of The Franks Casket from the British Museum showing the quality and craftsmanship of the Northumbrian Golden Age.
Other key objects including a Great Square Headed Brooch and Shield Boss are being loaned from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust who are delighted to establish a partnership with Ad Gefrin to enable the display of objects in the context of the Anglo-Saxon Golden Age and accessible to a wider public. With both partnerships in place, Ad Gefrin will be displaying treasures from the Anglo Saxon period to new audiences.
Commenting on objects to be loaned to Ad Gefrin, Director of Visitor Experience, Dr Chris Ferguson says:
“We are delighted to announce the partnerships with the British Museum and Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The return of those objects originating from Northumbria and the historical context provided by all of the loans will illuminate the intricate craftsmanship and richness of the culture to be found in the royal court at Yeavering –the jewellery, ceramics, weaponry and art on display were sumptuous – truly a ‘golden age of Northumbria’. As the extraordinary discovery of Sutton Hoo unveiled the riches buried in death for the people of this time – the story of Yeavering, to be told at Ad Gefrin, reveals the riches found in life.”
Maria Bojanowska, Dorset Foundation Head of National Programmes at the British Museum says: “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase these rare Anglo Saxon objects in Northumbria, where they originated. The Castle Eden Claw Beaker is a highlight of our early medieval collections and it is hugely exciting to see it return to the North East for the first time in 32 years. We are delighted to be collaborating with the Ad Gefrin Visitor Experience and look forward to bringing these objects to a new audience, facilitating new perspectives and ideas.”
Rosalyn Sklar, Curator, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust says: "The finds on loan from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust represent two Anglo-Saxon burial sites in Stratford-upon-Avon and nearby Bidford-on-Avon (Warwickshire), part of the historic kingdom of Mercia. These collections are of national importance and are rarely seen by the public which makes the collaboration with Ad Gefrin so important. Our great square-headed brooch with inset Roman intaglio is perhaps unique amongst Anglo-Saxon finds.”
