Crowds have flocked to see previously unseen items from the Staffordshire Hoard as it returned to Birmingham.
A selection of about 60 items has gone on display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, including helmet fragments, a crumpled gold cross and parts of animal ornaments.
Rosemary Hill, from Kings Heath, said: “I’ve always been fascinated by old metalwork. The quality of the workmaship in the Hoard is fascinating. Other pieces from different collections I’ve seen don’t have the quality that is here.”
Barbara Fox, also from Sutton Coldfield, said: “This is the second time I’ve seen it. I came the first time around before it went to London.
“I wanted to see it because it’s such interesting craftsmanship. This kind of craftsmanship isn’t really seen today.”
David Haseler, aged 67, from Edgbaston, said: “I’ve been bowled over by the workmanship of the pieces here. The intricacy of the work on these pieces of gold is amazing. It makes me wonder whether there’s a link between this and the jewellery tradition Birmingham has.”
Irene Wallace, aged 74, from Coventry, said: “I wanted to come down and have a look at it for myself rather than seeing it on the television. It’s amazing to see these items that have been preserved for so long.”
Graham Elliot, aged 54, from Peterborough, said: “I didn’t realise there were so many pieces and much to see. It’s very interesting.
“I do a bit of field-walking myself occasionally find pieces of Roman pottery. It must have been amazing to discover this.”
The display is being held in conjunction with another at Stoke-on-Trent.
Simon Cane, from Birmingham Museum and Art Galleries, said: “Stoke has had a fantastic turnout and now we’re pleased to be housing slightly smaller displays in both museums simultaneously.”
A total of £3.2 million needs to be raised to keep the display in the region and so far £1.5 million has been collected.
About 40,000 people visited when the collection was previously housed in Birmingham.
