Alfred Jewel, Anglo-Saxon archaeological treasure in Oxford, England
The Alfred Jewel is a small ornamental object made of gold, quartz, and enamel, shaped with a dragon head at one end. It was designed as a wearable reading pointer to help mark places in religious texts and was likely commissioned by an Anglo-Saxon king.
The object was likely made in the ninth century and bears an inscription in Old English naming an Anglo-Saxon king. It was discovered in 1693 near Athelney in Somerset, more than a thousand years after it was originally crafted.
The jewel shows how Anglo-Saxon craftspeople mastered the combination of gold, crystal, and enamel to create objects of lasting beauty and purpose. It reflects a society where such carefully made items belonged to powerful figures and held meaning in their daily routines.
At the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, this small treasure can be viewed up close in a display case. Allow time to study the fine details and engraved inscription carefully, as the object is quite small.
The inscription on this piece is written in Old English and directly names the person who commissioned it. This makes it a rare example of a medieval object where its origin is so clearly documented.
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