Millionaire gives Britain gold and silver collection

A British-born millionaire is to hand over a pounds 75m collection of gold and silver as a gift to the British nation.

Last night Michael Heseltine, the deputy prime minister announced that pounds 15.5m from the National Lottery will be used to refurbish Somerset House, in London, where the works will be displayed.

The Gilbert Collection will be the largest ever gift of works of art of its kind to the nation. It includes gold and silverware, gold boxes and micro-mosaics - ornaments covered in tiny mosaic patterns - collected by Mr Gilbert over the past 27 years.

Born in Golders Green, north London, and now living in Los Angeles, Arthur Gilbert made his millions from property development.

His collection includes pieces which were regarded as serious losses to this nation's heritage when they were exported. Until now it has been housed in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California, but Mr Gilbert said it had outgrown the space available.

Mr Gilbert was in England yesterday to sign a provisional agreement document with Mr Heseltine to seal the transfer although final details have yet to be worked out.

Mr Gilbert said he was delighted his collection was coming to England. "I always love England. I only left for selfish reasons because I wanted to live in the sun."

Announcing the gift Mr Heseltine said yesterday: "This is a remarkable act of generosity. It's one of the most important collections of gold and silver in the world. It's a unique collection and for it to be housed in Somerset House is tremendous for the people who have always wanted to see Somerset House opened up in the way it's going to be and have a collection of this quality."

He added that the pounds 15.5m lottery grant would be very useful in refurbishing the Terrace Building, the section of Somerset House where the collection will be housed.

Somerset House, in the Strand, designed by Sir William Chambers, is one of London's most important Enlightenment buildings. It currently houses the Inland Revenue and the Royal Court of Justice, along with other Government departments and the Courtauld Institute.

It is hoped the new galleries will be ready for the millennium. Until then it is hoped to tour parts of the Gilbert Collection through the UK.

Mr Gilbert was given a guided tour of Somerset House last week and saw the Central Hall which would be the main focus of the exhibit. The scheme would mean that public records archives stored in the building would be moved to Sheffield.