The Ardagh Hoard was discovered in Ireland in 1868. While many artifacts found in this medieval hoard are beautiful pieces, the Ardagh Chalice is up with the Book of Kells when it comes to the most impressive artifacts in Irish history. Jenny Snook explains.
You can also read Jenny’s first article for the site here.
The Ardagh Chalice, 2005. Source: Kglavin, available here.
The Ardagh Hoard was found by two teenage boys ‘Jimmy Quinn’ and ‘Paddy Flanagan’ who were out digging potatoes in a ráth or ring fort at Reerasta, near Ardagh, Co. Limerick. It consists of four silver brooches, a plain copper-alloy chalice, and the Ardagh Chalice. This chalice dates to about 750AD, but it is clear the collection wasn’t buried before the early 10th century. The latest object, a silver ‘thistle’ brooch, was made around this time.
Origin
Who put the hoard there and where it came from are two questions that historians are still trying to answer. One suggestion is that it was part of the collection stolen from a monastery at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly in 1125. Another, states that it came from a similar location to the Derrynaflan hoard, found near Killenaule, Co. Tipperary in 1980. This hoard contains a similar, but not as impressive, chalice. No one knows who buried the Ardagh Hoard but obviously, they were never able to retrieve it.
It was discovered under a large stone slab, suggesting it was buried quickly for protection, during a time when church treasures were often stolen by the Vikings. Dr. Murray is now part of a research program that includes the study of Irish Viking graves. He states:
They stole them by the armful. Not appreciating the sacred nature of these objects, they broke them up, using the fragments to decorate their possessions and turning others into brooches for Viking women.[1]
Relocation
This hoard remained underground up until the mid-19th century. The land where Jimmy Quinn lived was rented from an estate owned by the Sisters of Mercy. The hoard was claimed by the Catholic Bishop of Limerick, George Butler. Paying Quinn’s mother £50, he went on to sell it to the Royal Irish Academy for £100 (some have quoted a figure of £500). [2] Neither were aware that some of these pieces were over 1,000 years old.
In 1890, the Ardagh Chalice was put on display at the National Museum of Ireland and has remained on public display there ever since. The Tara Brooch is a stunning Celtic work of art also on display at the museum, made between 650 and 750AD and discovered in 1850. After their discovery, these two artifacts were copied and spurred on Celtic Revival jewelry and metalwork, based on some of their features and intricate style.
Style
This kind of chalice is called a ‘calyx ministerialis’, made to pass out Eucharistic wine among the congregation. Even at the time it was made, the Ardagh Chalice was quite an old-fashioned design, similar to the common Byzantine and western chalices.
It is made of beaten silver and the rim of the bowl is decorated in gilt bronze. Some of the other decorations use gold, amber, enamel and glass, such as the multi-colored glass studs attached to the rim. Just below the rim, there’s a decorated band featuring the names of St. Paul and the 11 apostles. Some of the letters of the inscription are like the large initials featured in an impressive manuscript known as the Lindisfarne Gospels, dating back to the early 8th century. The similarity of these letters is one of the reasons why the chalice has been dated back to this period.
Although it’s only 7 inches tall, it consists of 354 pieces.[3] Like the creation of the Book of Kells, it’s unknown how many people were involved, but it was probably made by several craftsmen.
The money given to them by the people who rented their land is one of the reasons why the Irish church had the funds to create such impressive works of art. The creation of the Ardagh Chalice, Derrynaflan Chalice, and the Book of Kells, represent the Golden Age of Ireland, lasting between the origin of Christianity in Ireland in the early 5th century, up to the end of the 9thcentury.
Maeve Sikora, Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland states:
It’s called the golden age because of the supremely high craftsmanship seen at the time. We have evidence of the amazing use of a variety of different artistic motifs and the use of many materials such as gold, silver, enamel, glass (Maeve Sikora, Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum of Ireland).[4]
Modern Day Significance
Today, experts still find the style of the Ardagh Chalice an incredibly difficult form of art to copy. It’s amazing to think it was made in natural light before methods of magnification were available.
The chalice is still appreciated by the public today. Between 1990 and 1995, the Irish postal service, ‘An Post’, developed a set of stamps under the name “Irish Heritage and Treasures”, choosing the Ardagh Chalice for the £1 stamp. The Sam Maguire Cup is a famous piece modeled on the chalice, given to the annual All-Ireland senior football champions.
Maeve Sikora states:
One hundred and fifty years on, the chalice is still relevant. It can begin so many conversations around devotion, craftwork and science.[5]
What do you think of the Ardagh Hoard? Let us know below.
Now, you can read Jenny’s article on the 1916 Proclamation that helped to create an independent Ireland here.
Webography
· https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/national-treasure-an-irishman-s-diary-on-the-ardagh-chalice-1.3634482 National Treasure: An Irishman’s Diary on the Ardagh Chalice
· https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20238825.html Vikings Ransacked Church Gold for Jewellery
· https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ardagh-chalice-shines-light-on-golden-age-37314647.html Ardagh Chalice Shines Light on Golden Age
· http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/irish-crafts/ardagh-chalice.htm Ardagh Chalice: 8th-9th Century.
· https://www.claddaghdesign.com/history/irish-treasures-ardagh-chalice/ Irish Treasures: The Ardagh Chalice
· https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ardagh-Chalice Ardagh Chalice
Bibliography
· Wallace, Patrick F. and Ó Floinn, Treasures of the National Museum of Ireland: Irish Antiquities (2002). Gill & Macmillan Ltd. Dublin
[1] https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20238825.html
[2] https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/national-treasure-an-irishman-s-diary-on-the-ardagh-chalice-1.3634482 (This figure is taken from the ‘Irish Times’ which is a reliable source. In a lot of online pieces £100 is stated but in a lot of others it’s £500. This is how it’s described in the Irish Times where it mentions the £500 in brackets).
[4] https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ardagh-chalice-shines-light-on-golden-age-37314647.html
[5] https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ardagh-chalice-shines-light-on-golden-age-37314647.html
