NATIONALTREASURESOBJECTS THE UK FOUGHT TO KEEP IN THE COUNTRY

IAN WHITTOCK

1. Jane Austen's RingIn 2013, U.S. singer and "American Idol" alum Kelly

Clarkson was thwarted in her bid to buy a ringwhich once belonged to famed 19th Centurynovelist Jane Austen. Clarkson purchased theturquoise and gold ring for £152,450 at auction,

and the Jane Austen's House Museum's "Bring theRing Home" campaign saw that the right was

returned to the UK.

2. JMW Turner's 1842 paintingof the Rigi mountain

Sold at auction for £5.8m in 2006, asuccessful fundraising appeal was launched,

Approximately 11,000 donors gave a totalof £550,000, with contributions arriving from

many notable individuals, including artistsDavid Hockney and Peter Blake. The work

remained in the UK.

3. the medieval panel by Italianartist Giovanni de Rimini

U.S. gallery owner and philanthropist RonaldS. Lauder donated funds to help finance thepanel's stay in the U.K. Painted in the early

1300s, a temporary export was placed on theitem after it was sold at auction in 2014.

Lauder enabled the National Gallery to buythe work for £4.91m.

4. The "Birkin" Bentley BlowerThe most expensive British car sold at public

auction was The "Birkin" Bentley Blower, whichwas purchased by an anonymous bidder. It was

one of just two cars owned by Isle of Manwatchmaker George Daniels, who'd died just oneyear earlier. The British Motor Industry Heritage

Trust objects to the sale of the single-seaterracing car.

5. Pablo Picasso's Child With A Dove'Child With A Dove' is considered to be one of theearliest works created by Picasso to enter a British

collection. The painting marks Picasso'smovement into his Blue period. Unfortunately, noinstitution was able to raise enough money to buy

the painting back from a private Qatar-basedcollector. Auctioneers Christies sold it on behalf ot

the Aberconway family.

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IAN WHITTOCK