Armstrong — Brooches Preserved in Library of Trinity College. 247 



mentioned as having been illustrated in Messrs. Johnson's Catalogue (No. 42), 

 and there called the "University Brooch." Owing to this being much 

 sulphurised and discoloured, it was not quite apparent of what metal it was 

 composed, so it was thought well to consult Dr. Sydney Young, f.e.s., who 

 kindly analyzed the metal, and reported that the material was silver, free 

 from lead, but containing a small amount of gold. It is probable that the 

 presence of gold in the silver is due to natural rather than artificial causes. 



The pin is missing, 

 and the hoop and ter- 

 minals are broken into 

 six separate pieces ; the 

 hoop measures 4'8 ins. 

 in its greatest diameter. 

 The most remarkable 

 feature of the brooch 

 is the cresting which 

 encircles the hoop, no 

 other example of this 

 being known to the 

 writer. It recalls the 

 cresting which sur- 

 rounds the heads of 

 many of the Celtic 

 crosiers in the Aca- 

 demy's collection. The 

 expanded terminals are 

 composed of a central 



Fig. 3. — Silver Brooch with crested hoop (f ). 



panel, following their outline, surrounded by pierced interlaced zoomorphic 

 patterns. These panels are ornamented with filigree work, and from them 

 rises a boss, also decorated with spiral and other patterns in filigree. As will 

 be seen in the illustration, only the boss in the right terminal remains. It 

 will be noticed that there is a head and beak on each side of the edge below 

 the junction of the hoop and terminal, and a head and beak can also be dis- 

 tinguished between these pairs. The animal forms at the straight edge of the 

 terminals are clear ; in the other parts they have the appearance of ordinary 

 interlacements. All the limbs are divided by a centre line into a double 

 band, characteristic of Irish ornament. The small animal heads at the lower 

 angles of the terminals may be remarked (fig. 3). 



A comparison may be instituted between this brooch and one of silver 

 in the Academy's collection, the terminals of which show a similar arrange- 



K.I.A. PROC VOL. XXXII., SECT. C. [39] 



