Jane Austen ring to stay in Britain after museum beats Kelly Clarkson's £150,000 bid

 
Austen ring
Louise Jury23 September 2013

A gold and turquoise ring once owned by Jane Austen will stay in Britain after a successful museum campaign to raise the funds to buy it.

American singer Kelly Clarkson had bought the ring for more than £150,000 at auction last year.

But under rules protecting artworks and artefacts of special importance, the Government imposed a temporary export ban to give potential UK buyers a chance to match her bid.

Today, the Jane Austen’s House Museum, in the former home of the writer, announced it had raised enough to buy the ring, which will go on display next year.

Ms Clarkson said she was happy the museum had managed to keep the piece in the UK.

She said: “The ring is a beautiful national treasure and I am happy to know that so many Jane Austen fans will get to see it at Jane Austen’s House Museum.”

The museum, in Chawton, Hampshire, had tried to buy the ring at the original auction but could not raise the money in time.

After the temporary export ban, an anonymous donor came forward with a pledge of £100,000 to kickstart efforts and further donations came from around the world.

Jane Austen

Museum curator Mary Guyatt said that they had been “stunned by the generosity” of the campaign’s supporters.

She added: “Visitors come from all around the world to see the house where she once lived and we will now take great pleasure in displaying this pretty ring for their appreciation.”

Ed Vaizey, the culture minister who ordered the export ban, said he was delighted by the result.

He said the museum’s success in securing public donations showed how admired Austen remained, adding: “The export licensing system provides us with a ‘last chance’ to save treasures for the nation so they can be enjoyed by all of us.”

Alan Davey, Arts Council chief executive, thanked the donors, adding: “This ring is a truly important piece of history.”

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