(CNN) -- The UK government is appealing for a buyer to ensure a rare piece of jewelry that once belonged to the author Jane Austen remains in Britain. The gold and turquoise ring is one of just three pieces of jewelry in existence known to have belonged to Austen, the 19th century author of novels including "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma." American singer Kelly Clarkson bought the ring when it was auctioned last year, Jane Austen's House Museum, in Chawton, southern England, said. Auction house Sotheby's listed the sale price as £152,450 ($231,227). UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has placed a temporary export bar on the ring "on the grounds that it is so closely connected with [Britain's] history and national life that its departure would be a misfortune," the Department for Culture said.
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Jane Austen was an English novelist who wrote in the early 1800s. She died in 1817.
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Her novels include "Pride and Prejudice," "Emma" and "Sense and Sensibility"
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Last year, U.S. singer Kelly Clarkson bought a ring that had belonged to Austen
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Britain says the ring is of historic significance and should not be taken out of the country
The temporary bar means @placeholder is unable to take the ring outside the UK.