£100m collection given to nation

The gold and silver artefacts are worth more than £100m

A collection of gold and silver artefacts worth more than £100m has been donated to a British museum by benefactor Sir Arthur Gilbert.

The unique objects drawn from across Europe, which have gone on show at London's Somerset House, are one of the most important collections ever to be given to the nation.

Sir Arthur Gilbert: Wanted to return the treasures to the country of his birth

London-born Sir Arthur amassed more than 800 works of art by buying up rarities from historic British houses after moving to California in 1949.

The crowning glory of the collection is a group of jewelled boxes made for Frederick the Great of Prussia.

When Sir Arthur heard of plans to open the 18th century Thames-side Somerset House to the public he decided to donate his collection to the nation.

Among the artefacts included in the exhibition are items of European silver, gold snuff boxes and large Italian mosaics.

Sir Arthur was born in London in 1913. He set up a dress business with his wife Rosalind.

It was so successful he retired to California while still in his thirties to concentrate on his art collection.

Lord Rothschild, who helped arrange the collection's arrival in the UK, says the gift is a reversal of history.

Lord Rothschild welcomed the unexpected donation

"We should rejoice that just once in a lifetime all this material which had been collected by the great aristocratic families of this country should be coming back from across the Atlantic in a most unexpected way," he said.

Sir Arthur said he felt the need to return the collection to the UK.

"Because it had become a part of my life, I felt it should be returned to the country of my birth," he said.

"It enticed me to choose Somerset House because it would become a palace for the people of England and the world."

Somerset House, designed by renowned architect Sir William Chambers, is currently being restored with the help of a £20.75m Heritage Lottery Fund grant.