The Cheapside Hoard

A couple of weeks ago my Mum and I took a trip to an exhibition in London. It was the final weeks for one being held at the Museum of London in the Barbican called " The Cheapside Hoard, London's lost jewels" It  showed the world's largest and most exquisite hoard of Elizabethan and early Stuart jewellery. This hoard was found hidden in a cellar floor in London's Cheapside where it had remained for 300 years.
It was discovered by workmen in 1912 and has never been shown until now in it's entirety. The collection is of over 500 pieces and includes a stunning brooch in the form of a salamander as well as cameos, pearls, enameling on necklaces and bracelets, opals and many other precious jewels.

Barbican is a very interesting area and is home to some iconic buildings including the Barbican Estate built in the 1960s.

I love how in London modern building coexist in total harmony with the old world too

I have never visited the Museum of London before, it is a really great place for day out, with some great exhibitions. 

Sadly photography was not allowed inside the  Cheapside Hoard exhibition but this is the flyer featuring a couple of the extraordinary pieces  on show.

One of my favourite pieces was this clock made out of 2 enormous pieces of emerald...it must be priceless.

In the other exhibition areas of the museum  however photography was freely allowed (with no flash). I decided to visit a couple of other parts of the museum later in the day after my Mum and I had enjoyed lunch in the on site cafe.

 This is the Lord Mayor's coach which is still used every year at the Lord Mayor's Show

and there was a great "Through the ages" permanent exhibition showing London from the earliest pre Roman times up until the present day.

Do you remember Woolworth's?

and Biba ...( I have just bought a Biba dress as House of Frazer sell a line of Biba clothing.) I can remember visiting the original Biba Shop in London in the 1970s with my best friend Karen. I had lots of the iconic 

round pots of nail polish in blue, black, green and even yellow. 

Other than the temporary exhibitions the Museum of London has free admission..quite a rare find in the capital. Sadly the Cheapside Hoard exhibition has now finished but if you ever get the chance to see it anywhere else do....it really blew me away.

 No one knows who hid the hoard or who owned it but I am so glad that it made the light of day again.

My card for today features some sacking (burlap) and I like to think of this hoard of jewellery being buried 300 years ago wrapped in sacking.......;0)

It features one of my LOTV pretty vintage sentiment stamps which I have gold embossed. The panel I have stamped it on was made with distress inks and the music script stamp is again from the LOTV pretty vintage range.  I distressed the edges to give a worn look and attached a small charm from my jewellery stash. 

Here are a couple of close ups;

I have put my card up for sale in my Etsy shop..here

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Lili of the Valley 10th Birthday card challenge

The artistic stamper embossing and texture

Bunny Zoe Distress

Crafty Catz anything goes

Vintage Stamping anything goes

Dream Valley say it with words

Pile it On rubber stamping

Whimsy Stamps anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Clean and simple

4 Crafty Chicks embossing

It's the end of the month tomorrow, how quickly has April flown by? Have a great week everyone and here in the UK we are looking forward to the May Day bank holiday next Monday, enjoy.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x