Ian Whittock identifies objects that the UK fought to keep in the country, beginning with a ring once owned by novelist Jane Austen. Learn more by visiting IanWhittock.org.

1. NATIONAL
TREASURESOBJECTS THE UK FOUGHT TO KEEP IN THE COUNTRY
IAN WHITTOCK

2. 1.Jane Austen's Ring
In 2013, U.S. singer and "American Idol" alum Kelly
Clarkson was thwarted in her bid to buy a ring
which once belonged to famed 19th Century
novelist Jane Austen. Clarkson purchased the
turquoise and gold ring for £152,450 at auction,
and the Jane Austen's House Museum's "Bring the
Ring Home" campaign saw that the right was
returned to the UK.

3. 2.JMW Turner's 1842painting
of the Rigi mountain
Sold at auction for £5.8m in 2006, a
successful fundraising appeal was launched,
Approximately 11,000 donors gave a total
of £550,000, with contributions arriving from
many notable individuals, including artists
David Hockney and Peter Blake. The work
remained in the UK.

4. 3.the medieval panel byItalian
artist Giovanni de Rimini
U.S. gallery owner and philanthropist Ronald
S. Lauder donated funds to help finance the
panel's stay in the U.K. Painted in the early
1300s, a temporary export was placed on the
item after it was sold at auction in 2014.
Lauder enabled the National Gallery to buy
the work for £4.91m.

5. 4.The "Birkin"BentleyBlower
The most expensive British car sold at public
auction was The "Birkin" Bentley Blower, which
was purchased by an anonymous bidder. It was
one of just two cars owned by Isle of Man
watchmaker George Daniels, who'd died just one
year earlier. The British Motor Industry Heritage
Trust objects to the sale of the single-seater
racing car.

6. 5.Pablo Picasso's Child With ADove
'Child With A Dove' is considered to be one of the
earliest works created by Picasso to enter a British
collection. The painting marks Picasso's
movement into his Blue period. Unfortunately, no
institution was able to raise enough money to buy
the painting back from a private Qatar-based
collector. Auctioneers Christies sold it on behalf ot
the Aberconway family.

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IAN WHITTOCK