A rare Saxon pendant discovered in Leeds has gone on public display for the first time in more than 1,200 years.

The early medieval silver cross is believed to have been worn as a symbol of religious identity and status, and is now on show at Leeds City Museum.

It is accompanied by stunning hand-drawn reconstructions by archaeological illustrator John Prudhoe, showing how the 18th-century piece may have originally gleamed with gold leaf and a central garnet.

The pendant was discovered by a metal detectorist and was found with one arm broken and the central stone missing.

Experts believe that it would have been a prestigious badge of office, possibly worn by a high-ranking church official when Leeds was part of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria.

Kat Baxter, curator of archaeology at Leeds Museums and Galleries, said: “Objects representing less wealthy people are less likely to survive, so we do still have a great deal to learn and discover about the local population and how they lived at what was a fascinating period in the history of Leeds.”

The cross joins the museum’s display near the West Yorkshire Hoard, a remarkable collection of Saxon jewellery and coins discovered locally, which suggests Leeds may have been an important site during the early medieval period.

Funding of the pendant’s acquisition came from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Friends of Leeds City Museums, and the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, under the Treasure Act 1996.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “It’s wonderful to see this beautiful discovery on display and to know that a piece of the city’s history that had been buried beneath the soil for more than a thousand years is now available for our visitors to see.”