16 Mr. Petrie on the Domnach-Airgid. 



The rim is ornamented on its two external faces with various grotesque 

 devices, executed with very considerable skill, and the angles were enriched 

 with pearls, probably native, or other precious jewels. A tablet on the rim, and 

 at the upper side, presents the following inscription in the Monkish character 

 used in the 13th and 14th centuries : 



" JOHS : O KARBBI : COMORBANUS : S : TIGNACII : PMISIT." 



Or with the contractions lengthened ; thus : 



JOHANNES O KARBRI COMORBANUS [sUCCeSSOr] SANCTI TIGHERNACII PERMISIT. 



Another inscription, in the same character, preserves the name of the artist 

 by whom those embellishments on the outer case were executed, and is valuable 

 as proving that this interesting specimen of ancient art was not of foreign manu- 

 facture. It will be found on a small moulding over one of the tablets : 



" JOHANES : O BARRDAN : FABRICAVIT." 



The front side of the case presents three convex pater ce, ornamented, in a very 

 elegant style of art, with figures of grotesque animals and traceries : they are 

 enamelled with a blue paste, and have in the centre of each cup an uncut crystal 

 covering relics like those on the top. An interesting feature on this side is 

 the figure of a chief or nobleman on horseback, with sword in hand. It 

 exhibits with minute accuracy the costume of the nobility in Ireland during the 

 14th century. 



The ornaments contained within the rim, on the back or opposite side, are 

 lost, and their place has been supplied by the recent repairer, with figures which 

 originally belonged to the right and left sides. These figures are, however, 

 restored to their proper places in the accompanying plates, on the authority of 

 Sir W. Betham's drawings ; from which it appears that these sides were originally 

 ornamented with figures in relief, like those on the top. 



On the right hand side, the upper compartment presents a figure of St. Ca- 

 therine with those of a monk in the attitude of prayer on the left, and a boy 

 incensing on the right : these latter figures are not in relief, but are engraved 

 on the field of the tablet. The second, or lower compartment of this side is lost. 



On the left hand side, the upper compartment presents the figure of an eccle- 

 siastic seated on a chair or throne, his left hand holding a small cross, and his 



