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Kelly Clarkson bid to take Jane Austen ring out of UK | Kelly Clarkson bid to take Jane Austen ring out of UK |
(about 20 hours later) | |
The British government is trying to stop US singer Kelly Clarkson taking a rare turquoise and gold ring once owned by Jane Austen out of the country. | The British government is trying to stop US singer Kelly Clarkson taking a rare turquoise and gold ring once owned by Jane Austen out of the country. |
The 2002 winner of the American Idol TV show bought the jewellery at auction last year for more than £150,000. | |
But Culture minister Ed Vaizey has put a temporary export bar on it and has appealed for UK buyers to come forward. | But Culture minister Ed Vaizey has put a temporary export bar on it and has appealed for UK buyers to come forward. |
The ring is one of only three pieces of jewellery known to have belonged to the Pride and Prejudice author. | The ring is one of only three pieces of jewellery known to have belonged to the Pride and Prejudice author. |
Mr Vaizey said he wanted the "national treasure" to be "saved for the nation". | Mr Vaizey said he wanted the "national treasure" to be "saved for the nation". |
Buyers have until 30 September to match the £152,450 price tag. | Buyers have until 30 September to match the £152,450 price tag. |
'Extremely rare' | 'Extremely rare' |
The ring comes with papers documenting its history within the family of Jane Austen (1775 - 1817) who lived most of her life in Hampshire and is one of English literature's most celebrated authors. | The ring comes with papers documenting its history within the family of Jane Austen (1775 - 1817) who lived most of her life in Hampshire and is one of English literature's most celebrated authors. |
The ring passed first to her sister Cassandra, who then gave it to her sister-in-law Eleanor Austen on her engagement to Jane and Cassandra's brother, the Reverend Henry Thomas Austen. | The ring passed first to her sister Cassandra, who then gave it to her sister-in-law Eleanor Austen on her engagement to Jane and Cassandra's brother, the Reverend Henry Thomas Austen. |
It had remained in the family until Clarkson, who grew up in Texas, bought it at auction. | It had remained in the family until Clarkson, who grew up in Texas, bought it at auction. |
If a UK institution or private buyer does not come forward by the deadline then the export licence for the ring will be granted. | If a UK institution or private buyer does not come forward by the deadline then the export licence for the ring will be granted. |
But the deadline can be extended to 30 December if proof emerges of "a serious intention to raise funds" to match the six-figure price tag. | But the deadline can be extended to 30 December if proof emerges of "a serious intention to raise funds" to match the six-figure price tag. |
Mr Vaizey said: "Jane Austen's modest lifestyle and her early death mean that objects associated with her of any kind are extremely rare, so I hope that a UK buyer comes forward so this simple but elegant ring can be saved for the nation." | Mr Vaizey said: "Jane Austen's modest lifestyle and her early death mean that objects associated with her of any kind are extremely rare, so I hope that a UK buyer comes forward so this simple but elegant ring can be saved for the nation." |
The ring is one of four "national treasures" recently to have had temporary export bars put on them by the government, | The ring is one of four "national treasures" recently to have had temporary export bars put on them by the government, |
Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin's famous Bentley Blower super-charged racing car could be exported if no UK buyer comes forward to match an offer of more than £5m made by an overseas buyer. | Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin's famous Bentley Blower super-charged racing car could be exported if no UK buyer comes forward to match an offer of more than £5m made by an overseas buyer. |
The other items are an archive of letters from General Wolfe and a collection of material that documents the Gregory Expedition to Northern Australia in the mid-1850s. | The other items are an archive of letters from General Wolfe and a collection of material that documents the Gregory Expedition to Northern Australia in the mid-1850s. |
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