Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/266

200 They were designated by several names, being worn, as it is supposed, in the hair, as well as to fasten the dress. The specimens exhibited were from co. Westmeath, and Galway. Also bronze harp-pins (see woodcut) found in the Shannon, near Athlone, co. Westmeath; bodkins and needles of bone, from co. Down; a bronze object, resembling the umbo of a shield, recently found at Inis Kaltra, an island in Lough Derg, between Clare and Galway. This is an object of great rarity, and Mr. Brackstone observed that no example exists in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy. One of the bronze fibulæ was found in 1849, in opening a tumulus in the parish of Skryne, near Tara, co. Meath. About 7 feet below the surface a large deposit of ashes was discovered, and under this was a layer of flints with calcined bones; near these the fibula was found, (see woodcut). The deep cavities of the flower-like ornaments are chased with interlaced patterns, now indistinctly seen: these were probably filled up with coloured paste, or inlaid metal. Another rare variety of the ring-brooch, is also here represented.

By Mr., of Leeds.—Several ancient relics formed of bone, a fragment of earthen ware, singularly perforated, bone pins, and two disks, or flat beads of stone, found in Lake Ballindery, co. Westmeath.

By Mr. E. J. .—A ring of silver, of late Roman workmanship, found at Lincoln, set with a blue imitative intaglio of nicolo.

By Lieut. Col. .—A facsimile of a small metal escutcheon, the face chased out to receive enamel, the bearing being, fusily or and azure. It was found in Carisbrooke Castle, and belongs to a class of small enamelled ornaments, apparently intended for suspension to horse-trappings. Date, XIV. cent.

By Mr. .—An impression of a seal of Evesham Abbey, not mentioned in the new edition of the Monasticon. It is on green wax, in very perfect preservation, appended to a grant from Clement, Abbot of Evesham, and the convent of that place, dated 29 Hen. VIII. The seal is of pointed-oval form, and represents a figure, wearing a mitre, kneeling before a person, who holds forth a cross patée in his right hand. In the apex of the seal is a star within a crescent.—✠. The date of the workmanship appears to be early XIVth cent. An impression of this seal is appended to a document amongst the Harleian Charters, date 23 Hen. VIII.

By the Rev. S. .—A series of examples of German seals, imperial, ecclesiastical, and municipal, being a selection from a large assemblage of casts recently acquired from Dr. Roemer, a distinguished collector at Frankfort. They comprised impressions of the curious seals of Charles le Gros, A.D. 800; Lothaire I., A.D. 833; and Louis II., A.D. 876; of oval form, apparently antique gems, set in metal rims, which bear an inscription. Also Frederick II., 1196 (bulla of gold); Otto IV., 1198; Richard, Earl of Cornwall, brother of Henry III., King of England—he was elected King of the Romans in 1257; the Emperors Charles IV., 1347; Sigismund, 1414; Albert II., 1438; Frederic III., 1440; Charles V., 1530; and Mathias, 1612. Also the seals of John, King of Bohemia, 1314; Waleran, Duke of Lemburg, 1225; and an example of extraordinary perfection in workmanship, the seal of George William of Brandenburg, 1622. Valuable illustrations of sacred costume were supplied by the seals of Mayence, representing St. Martin, the patron