14 TH. PETERSEN. [1907 



inner wooden box of the same form and size as the Melhus-shrine. 

 The walls and roof are covered vvith thin piates of silver enclosed 

 in a frame-vvork of curved bronze mountings. On the front the 

 piates are decorated with a pattern of interlaced zoomorphic designs 

 in the later Irish style. Here vve also see the three raised me- 

 dallions placed as on the Melhus-shrine. The ornamentation is 

 somewhat different, these being decorated vvith a pattern of inter- 

 laced-work surrounding a jewelled centre. Besides there are three 

 square panels decorated in the same manner, two on each side of 

 the iipper medallion and the third between the two lower ones. 

 From the ends of the ridge are projecting gable-heads of the same 

 form as on the Melhus shrine, decorated, however, in a style 

 corresponding with that of the medallions and square panels. At 

 the ends it has hinged enamelled bars of bronze for the insertion 

 of the ends of a strap. 



As the Monymusk reliquary has been preserved from time 

 immemorial at Monymusk it may be regarded as a Scottish ecclesia- 

 stical relic. The two foUowing ones, however, were found in Ireland. 

 Of these the best preserved was found in 1891 in Lough Erne 

 between Enniskillen and Belleek and is at present in a private 

 collection. It is described and illustrated by J. Romilly Allen, 

 Celtic Art in Pagan and Christian Times, pp. 210 f. The shrine 

 consists of an inner box of yew-wood of the same form as the 

 Melhus-shrine. Thin bronze piates without ornaments cover walls 

 and roof. On each side there are three circular medallions deco- 

 rated with a jewelled centre and a pattern of interlaced-work fiUing 

 the Space round it. Curved bronze mountings cover the corners ; 

 a metal band decorated with an interlaced pattern conceals the 

 joint between the eaves of the roof and the sides. Horizontally 

 upon the ridge is a solid bronze bar placed on edge, terminating 

 in projecting gable-heads like those on the shrines mentioned above. 

 Appliances for the insertion of a strap are hinged to the ends. 



Somewhat more deca3^ed is another shrine found in the 

 Shannon and now preserved in the. Museum at Edinburgh. It 

 too consists of a box of wood of the same shape as the preceding 

 ones, covered with bronze piates without ornaments. Instead of 



