Helmet fragments previously unseen in Birmingham will go on display when items from the world’s largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure returns to the city tomorrow (Saturday).

A selection of 59 items will be on display including helmet fragments with animal decorations and warriors. Other artefacts to be displayed include

fragments of decoration of eagles and ducks, a crumpled gold cross and a red garnet stud.

The same number of items will be displayed at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, including a delicate filigree gold horse’s head, a gold strip with a biblical inscription and a crumpled gold plaque with ornate fish and bird heads.

The two displays will run until April 18. During this time, 10 of the items will be shown at fundraising events in London. These will then return to be on display in Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham.

The Staffordshire Hoard attracted more than 40,000 visitors to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery throughout its 19-day display last October. It attracted 52,500 visitors to The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent during a 23-day exhibition which ran until March 7.

The display in Stoke-on-Trent raised over £152,000 towards the fund-raising total to acquire the hoard. And The Art Fund, which is leading the fund-raising campaign to acquire the treasure on behalf of Birmingham City Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said £1.5 million has been raised in public pledges. Other major funding bodies have also been approached, but the target of £3.3m needs to be reached by April 17 deadline.

The Anglo-Saxon treasure is believed to date from the later 6th to early 8th century AD, and was cared for by Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until it was declared treasure last September. The hoard was then transferred to the British Museum in London for valuation which was confirmed November 26 as £3.3million.

For further information on Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, please visit www.bmag.org.uk.