Ardagh Hoard

The hoard of Ardagh is a hoard that was found 1868 in Ardagh in County Limerick. He is now in the National Museum of Ireland. The Fund consists of the so-called " Ardagh Chalice ", a bronze cup and four brooches in sterling silver, three of them closed ring brooches and one of them a thistle brooch. It is one of the rare hoards of metalwork, under which there is a liturgical vessel with the Ardagh Chalice. The cup is one of the eight Major Pieces of the Irish National Museum and is adjacent to the Book of Kells as an outstanding example of art in Ireland.

Fund history

Finds

Ardagh Chalice

• Period: 8th century.
• Height: 17.8 cm
• Rim diameter: 23.1 cm
• Inventory number: IA: 1874.99

The Ardagh Chalice is a Calix ministerialis, so a Chalice, which was used by believers to reach the chalice. It is dated to the 8th century. The form identifies him as a variant of a known from the eastern Mediterranean cup type, which is known from Byzantine silver hoards of the 6th century. Individual characteristics such as the decoration are in the local tradition of Irish art and were transferred to the liturgical vessel. It has been restored since its discovery twice, the first time in the 19th century by a jeweler, the second time in 1961 in the workshops of the British Museum. The chalice represents " a, pattern book ' of skills is that were applied in the metal work in Ireland at the time. "

The shell and the foot of the cup made ​​of hammered silver that has been polished by subsequent rotation. The handles are also made of silver and were made in Gießvervahren. The cylindrical shaft and the rings at the bases of the shell and the foot were later cast in gilded bronze, also made of gilded bronze is the profile that was attached to the tray edge. Cup, stem and base of the cup to be held together with a square cross section pin, the upper end at the bottom of the tray can be seen. On the underside of the foot, the bolt is covered by a socket into which a conical rock crystal and a cast bronze ring are inserted.

The shell is ornamented with the exception of a densely placed under the edge of the tire, the tire is made of gold filigree inlaid glass in between fields and bumps. On both sides of the cup of each medallion is also attached, which is divided in a cross shape and is decorated with gold filigree and glass cabochons. Below the tire, the silver surface is a dashed line, in the recesses of dashes the names of the Acts are included. The names are given to two in the genitive case, only the name of Thaddeus and Simon can be found in the nominative. The letters are similar in style the initials of the Book of Lindisfarne.

The Henkel arise from two Attaschen who are using email and filigree decorated and fastened with rivets. Light dashed stripes are also found around the handle, the Attaschen and the upper shaft edge, below the handle and Attaschen widen this on motives from animals and human heads. In some of the enamel work of Attaschen square metal grids are inserted, which is interpreted as an attempt to mimic the cloisonné work Frankish and Saxon jewelery that time. The Attaschen have large bumps that are surrounded with divided trays. In such a green residue from glue mixed with malachite can be seen, which served to fasten thin amber works.

The score cut ornaments as well as the bottom of the foot were made ​​by casting, represented both intricate animal motifs and ornamentation of the late La Tène style. There are openwork gilt copper plates and tissue-like networks of wire at the top of the foot edge.

On the bottom of the foot are pressed copper sheets, the ring underneath the foot is provided with filigrees and ornaments from notching cut. There you will find blue enamel fields that rolled with C-shaped inserts are made of Perldraht, in some of the fields with openwork works mica sheets were placed as an underlay. The adequacy with patterned silver foil under the enamel work on some versions of the chalice foot in favor of the bond to the tradition of Frankish and Saxon courts.

The filigree has been widely carried out on an embossed film which can be seen in the gaps. The works consist of Perldrähten, twisted wires and gold beads and include as a motif in addition to simple flourishes, snakes and snares birds and other animals. The variety and type of wire were varied so that in the sometimes tiny fields produces depth and the motives thus life was given. The quality of the filigree work is normally only found on the Tarafibel and paten of Derrynaflan, the decor is reminiscent of the structure of the Book of Kells. The enamels were on a high technical level, working with rock crystal, amber and mica leaves but already a departure from the usual techniques and first attempts of ornaments close with semi-precious stones.

Bronze chalice

• Period: 8th century.
• Height: 11.8 cm
• Rim diameter: 13.8 cm
• Shell Depth: 6.74 cm
• Inventory number: IA: 1874.100

The bronze chalice is a minor or a Calix Calix sanctus, so a Zelebrantenkelch, which resembles the larger silver chalices in form and function. Because of the joint discovery with the " cup of Argagh " he is a witness for the domestic production of liturgical vessels. It is dated to the 8th century.

The cup had been damaged during the time of its discovery, and in its execution a simple hammered vessel whose shell is polished by turning and provided with a recovery under the decaying edge. With the discovery of the hoard was the shell on a tubular shaft that is truncated from the Finder. The shaft was replaced in the 19th century by a piece of wood, which was in turn replaced by 1977 plexiglass. Below that is a little decaying foot.

The use of bronze for the cup can be explained by the fact that existed in the traditional Irish tale, the Cross of the Arma Christi nails of bronze and this metal was therefore considered to be particularly suitable for liturgical vessels.

Ring brooch (IA: 1874.104 )

• Period: 8th or 9th century.
• Diameter: 13.1 cm
• Width of the end plate: 7.58 cm
• Needle length: 33.55 cm
• Weight: 500.54 g
• Inventory number: IA: 1874.104

The largest of the three ring brooches is completely closed, the lower part of the ring is connected to a semi-circular plate, the needle head is designed as a trapezoid- shaped end plate. It is made of gilded silver and is dated to the late 8th or early 9th century.

The trapezoidal needle head has top and on the sides, small triangular projections and is decorated in two rows with Celtic knot patterns. In the middle sits an empty triangular form in which possibly a bird figure was inserted below this version is an empty round version.

The disk is divided into several narrow fields, which are filled with Celtic knot patterns in kerf in part these were carried out in double lines. In the middle of the board there are three carved in high relief birds. In two of the feathers of the wings are marked by scale pattern, one of which is damaged on the side, so that under the missing metal piece of a bird form of carved legs can be seen, the other the head is missing. The third bird is less ornate than the other two and also smaller, but it is the only over a ausmodellierten tail. There are three round frames, two of which are empty and contains a hemispherical silver belt, which is provided with square glass inserts at both ends and at the bottom of the semicircle. The hoop of the ring is divided into boxes and decorated with doppellinig executed node patterns. On the back of an incised line runs around the fibula ring. At the point at which the front two larger birds are sitting two thin plates of gilded bronze, cut into the animal motifs. From other Irish brooches is known that such plates were attached to mask underlying cavity fillings.

The shaft of the needle has a small area, which is provided with molded Flechtdekor.

The absence of filigree work, the comparatively clumsy execution of the only surviving hump and the plates on the back suggest that the fibula has arisen after the heyday of the Irish pageantry fibulae in the 8th century. But according to Michael Ryan speaks the similarity of bird ornaments with ornaments on open Scottish ring brooches and the crosier of Ekerö.

Ring brooch (IA: 1874.101 )

• Period: 9th century.
• Ring diameter: 9.2 cm
• Width of the end plate: 4.6 cm
• Needle length: 25.55 cm
• Weight: 160.09 g
• Inventory number: IA: 1874.101

The annular guide is fully closed, the lower part of the ring is connected to webs which are mounted between two quarter-circular plates, the pin head is designed as a rectangular end plate. It is made of gilded silver and is dated to the 9th century.

The needle head contains in its center a rectangular box in which in turn a diamond-shaped field is embedded. In the corners crouching animals are to be seen with a long snout and small glass eyes, in between each is an apostle of the Cross.

The two quarter-circular plates are connected by three bridges with increased smooth edge. In the corners of the panels are sheet-shaped grooves, the central portions are increased, and have square wells with simple filigree on a perforated film. Between the fullers find themselves in the middle of simple knots, top birds with rearward-facing heads and along the curved sides of hippocamps reminiscent animals. The eye sockets are empty of birds, while the glass eyes of the hippocamps are obtained. On the plates are found per a round version, one of which is empty and the other contains a Bernsteincabochon. The raised center parts are not plated as opposed to remaining fibula. The back has two depth fields at the locations of the front elevations, one of which has a circulation of two silver plates with gilded cross patterns. On the other hand, this support is lost, so including a lead filling is seen.

The shaft of the needle has two diamond-shaped fields, on one of them are weakly incised knot pattern to see.

The simple semi-circular ring, the square needle head, square recessed boxes inlaid with filigree work, the use of Bernstein and dealing with animal motifs are features that can be found on a number of fibulae of the 9th century and typical of Irish brooches of that time.

Ring brooch (IA: 1874.102 )

• Period: 9th century.
• Ring diameter: 9.72 cm
• Width of the end plate: 5.7cm
• Needle length: 26.4 cm
• Weight: 227.74 g
• Inventory number: IA: 1874.102

The ring brooch is similar to the larger ring brooch (IA: 1874.101 ). It is completely closed and comprises two quarter-circle -shaped plates are connected to three bars. Your needle head is rectangular and is made of gilded silver. She also has three round frames and three square recessed boxes, are located in the same place as in the larger primer. It is dated to the 9th century.

In contrast to the ring brooch (IA: 1874.101 ) is the fibula not provided with filigree work. The needle head is made square, in whose elevated midfield is an in-depth field. In the corners and at the edges are oval and round hump with simple decoration in chip carving, which are connected by wing-like structures in openwork. In the round version below the increase remains a paste of white raw material are obtained, which was mixed with black particles. It is believed that this initially thin succinic plates were adhered.

The two quarter-circle -shaped plates are decorated on the rounded sides and on the inner sides with elongate animals which are carried out in a perforated work. The animals lying on the outer edge have open mouths, in which tongues and fangs are to see and wear ridges or flaps of skin on the head, which expire forward into curlicues. The joints of the animals are represented by bumpy relief spirals. The animals of the inside have closed mouths, but an equally outgoing head trim. Your joints are shown as humps, on which another small hump can be seen. This " blueberry-like " projections are an essential element of fibulae of the 9th century, and may represent a stylistic forerunner of thistle brooches dar. On the back of the end plates are to be seen two silver plates, which are divided with cross-shaped gold bars placed in string pattern.

The needle shaft has on the front two oval, decorated with Kerbscnitt fields and on the back a simple depth field.

Thistle brooch

• Period: Late 9th or 10th century.
• Ring diameter: 7.65 cm
• Width of the end plate: 1.56 cm
• Needle length: 17.9 cm
• Weight: 136.4 g
• Inventory number: IA: 1874.103

The thistle brooch is made of gilded silver and is dated to the late 9th or early 10th century. Fibulae of this style are known mainly from hoards of the 10th century, which is why it has been widely used as the youngest object of the hoard of Ardagh to try dating the hoard resignation.

It consists of a simple open silver ring with circular cross-section which terminates at the ends in the plated knobs. The knobs are provided with Brombeerdekor, as well as the seated to the ring needle head, which corresponds in shape and size of the knobs. The above still round needle flattens downward toward a triangular cross section. The shank and the needle head are connected to each other with a pin.