The Ashmolean in Oxford was the world's first public museum - and, in this country, is second only to the British Museum in the range and depth of its collections.

Often we do not appreciate what we have on our own doorstep and jet around the world in search of beautiful places, art, architecture and antiques.

Someone who appreciated the richness of the Oxford collections, yet realised that many of the treasures of the Ashmolean were poorly displayed is the current director of the museum, Dr Christopher Brown, who is currently overseeing a transformation of this Oxford icon.

Half-a-million precious objects have been put into storage while the construction work to make the museum fit for the 21st century and beyond goes on.

I asked Dr Brown to chose one object from the Ashmolean collections he would hope to find on his desert island.

"The museum owns wonderful collections of drawings by Raphael and Michelangelo," he said. "There is a fine one by Rembrandt of his father but I decided to choose from one of the 244 items selected from all the departments for inclusion in our Treasures Gallery.

"I was tempted by the elegant Turkish dish c1530-50 (treasure no. 198) which has the particularly beautiful colour combinations of Isnik pottery. Fitting the pattern to the awkward shape was masterful.

"The Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon has a fine collection of Middle Eastern artefacts including exquisite Mosque lamps. A recent visit there made me re-examine one of ours, the 14th century lamp from Cairo made for the Mamluk Sultan of Eqypt, Muhammad Ibn Qala'un (treasure no. 153) which was purchased with the help of the Friends of the Ashmolean. I admire it as an aesthetic object for the delicacy of the enamelling on glass.

"Exhibit number 24 is a sophisticated bronze of the Roman god of the home, Lar. Looking at the vigour of the movement and the folds of his tunic, it is easy to see why there was debate between the so-called Ancients and Moderns' during the Renaissance. They argued passionately about whether it was possible to surpass the achievements of the classical period.

"In the end I will reluctantly leave all three behind and choose instead a piece that comes from closer to home - the Alfred Jewel."

King Alfred the Great ruled the Anglo Saxons from 871- 899, and is sadly probably best remembered for the tale about burning cakes.

The jewel is number 55 in the Treasures Gallery. Its gold frame bears the inscription Aelfred mec heht gewyrcan' (Alfred ordered me to be made).

The seated figure holding flowers in fine enamels is thought to represent the sense of sight.

"The sense of sight is an allusion to its purpose as a pointer," Dr Brown said. "The jewel is actually a handle of an aestral, used for following the text of a manuscript. Alfred is famous for his love of learning and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.

"This beautiful piece is from what is conventionally known as the The Dark Ages. The device may have saved illuminated manuscripts from the greasy fingers of meat-eaters, but we are probably rash to dismiss the period in that way.

"This jewel alone raises questions. It was found in 1693 at Newton Park in Somerset, an area associated with Alfred. It was bequeathed to the Ashmolean by Nathaniel Palmer in 1718 and so was a very early exhibit.

"On a desert island, it would transport me back to England, to Oxford, and the Ashmolean in particular. It evokes memories of my family, too. I remember showing the jewel to my children.

"My wife is curator of 19th and 20th century literary manuscripts at the British Library. The jewel's use in reading would make me feel close to her as well."

You can see the Alfred Jewel in the Treasures Gallery at the Ashmolean Museum. For a glimpse of the future of this venerable institution, visit the website www.ashmolean.org and click on the link Transforming the Ashmolean'.

The current exhibition at the museum, Chinese Prints 1950-2006, runs until February 24. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, and Sunday noon-5pm.

The Friends of the Ashmolean organise private views, lectures and trips. The annual subscription by standing order is £25. If you would like to become a friend, call 01865 278016.