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The bronze figure of Jesus was added in the 15th or 16th century but is now badly damaged, while most of the plating around him is lost. He is set against a silver cross-shaped plate of which only remnants remain. Equally the bronze backing is severely damaged especially to the lower right hand side.<ref name="o137"/> His is shown as dead, with his head drooping to the right, and is naked except of a ]. His hands are missing, while the horizontal form above his head maybe either a crown or a band of his hair.<ref name="dp182" /> The bronze figure of Jesus was added in the 15th or 16th century but is now badly damaged, while most of the plating around him is lost. He is set against a silver cross-shaped plate of which only remnants remain. Equally the bronze backing is severely damaged especially to the lower right hand side.<ref name="o137"/> His is shown as dead, with his head drooping to the right, and is naked except for a ]. His hands are missing, while the horizontal form above his head maybe either a crown or a band of his hair.<ref name="dp182" />


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Revision as of 22:31, 2 April 2022

10th century Irish bell shrine
Corp Naomh (holy body)
MaterialWood, silver, bronze, rock crystal, niello
SizeHeight: 23 cm (9.1 in)
CreatedLate-10th century, added to in the 15th and 16th centuries
Period/cultureEarly Medieval, Insular
PlaceTemplecross, County Westmeath
Present locationNational Museum of Ireland, Dublin
IdentificationNMI:1887:145

The Corp Naomh (Template:Lang-en) is a 10th century Irish reliquary bell-shrine found before 1682 at Tristernagh Abbey, near Templecross, County Westmeath. It is made from a wooden core lined with bronze and decorated with silver, niello and rock crystal. Built to hold a saint's bell, it is badly damaged and when discovered the bell itself had been substituted with a block of wood.

The origional late 10th century shrine was extensively refurbished to in the 15th and 16th centuries, when elements such as the central bronze crucifix, the griffin and lion figures, the stamped border panels, and the backing plate were added. Early portions include the semi-circular plate crest on the top.

It was first exhibited in 1853, and acquired from the Royal Irish Academy in 1887 by the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, where it remains on permanent display.

Discovery

The shrine was found sometime before 1682 on the grounds of the now ruined Tristernagh Abbey (founded 1190) in Templecross, Co. Westmeath, and first mentioned by the MP and then owner of the land on which the abbey is located Henry Piers in his '"History of Westmeath". Although recogonised as a reliquary, it was assumed to have been a container for a manuscript.

Piers did not open the shrine, but estimated that it contained "a bible of the smaller volume", and described the outer casing as "laced about with laces of brass, and...studded over on the one side with pieces of crystal all set in silver, and....on the other side appears a crucifix of brass, and whether it have any thing hidden within it, is known I believe to no man living, but it hath been and is held to this day in great veneration by all of the Romanish persuasion that live hereabout".

The shrine was first exhibited at the Irish Industrial Exhibition world's fair held in Cork in 1852, where it was shown alongside such works as the Cathach, Saint Manchan's Shrine and the Cross of Cong.

Description

The title Corp Naomh (Sacred or holy body, at one time it was known as the Corp Nua) is modern and based on the large central figure of Christ on the cross. It is built from a thin slim wooden core, to which various separately cast plates were added, the earliest of which is the 10th century crest at the top of the shrine which is made from hard yellow bronze. The stamped border panels and backing plate are 15th century, while the central crucifixion and oval crystal at the lower left hand may be from the 16th century.

Crest

Detail of the cleric on the crest

The 12 cm (4.7 in) high crest is semi-circular and decorated on both sides. Its front contains a cleric holding a book, who is most likely an evangelists given his similarities to the 11th century figures on the Soiscél Molaisse. The figure is assumed to be bald based on both this clothing and the fact that he is partially bald, which was often contemporary short-hand for indicating an ecclesiastical. His head is placed outside the frame and onto the 1.27 cm (0.50 in) wide border above him, which is made of bronze and decorated with running-knot interlace patterns. He has whiskers and a curled beard, and wears a full length tunic rendered with cross hatching on enamel, niello and sandals.

Both of his shoulders contain a circular ornament and cross hatchings that resemble early versions of Orthodox Crosses. The historian William Frazer describes the design and its "equal-rayed limbs" as an example of the then "popular and universally worn Patrick's Crosses" type, which he said were "distinctive emblems of Christian teaching... recognised badge of those who possessed rank in the Celtic churches". Other early works containing similar designs include figures on a stone cross from Meigle, Scothland, and the 12th-century Irish Saint Manchan's Shrine.

The panels on either side contain horseman facing towards him. Above these are large birds with long wings that appear as if to take flight. Frazer speculates that the birds represent the martyrdom of the cleric.

Main panel

Detail of Christ's head

The bronze figure of Jesus was added in the 15th or 16th century but is now badly damaged, while most of the plating around him is lost. He is set against a silver cross-shaped plate of which only remnants remain. Equally the bronze backing is severely damaged especially to the lower right hand side. His is shown as dead, with his head drooping to the right, and is naked except for a loincloth. His hands are missing, while the horizontal form above his head maybe either a crown or a band of his hair.

Detail of the griffin and lion above Christ's left arm

Above Christ's left arm is a silver panel showing a dragon or griffin and lion confronting each other in symmetrical poses. The hindlegs of both are extended as if they about are about to attack each other . This was likely one of a series of similar plates surrounding the length of his body.

Reverse

The back of the 10th century crest is as equally decorated as the front part. The reverse of the lower part contains a grid of small interlinked openwork crosses set on a damaged bronze plate.

Gallery

  • 19th century drawing of the reverse 19th century drawing of the reverse
  • The shrine's leather cover The shrine's leather cover
  • Ruins of Tristernagh Abbey Ruins of Tristernagh Abbey

Notes

  1. ^ Overbey (2012), p. XII
  2. ^ De Paor (1977), p. 181
  3. ^ Frazer (1899), p. 35
  4. ^ Overbey (2012), p. 139
  5. Overbey (2012), p. 140
  6. ^ Betham (1826), p. 21
  7. Overbey (2012), p. 26
  8. ^ Overbey (2012), p. 137
  9. ^ Frazer (1899), p. 36
  10. ^ De Paor (1977), p. 182
  11. Semi-bald clerics also appear on the Kells Crozier, Saint Manchan's Shrine, amongst others. See Overbey (2012), p. 62
  12. ^ Frazer (1899), p. 37
  13. Frazer (1899), p. 38
  14. Crawford (1923), p. 77

Sources

Insular art
Types
Techniques
Examples
Collections
Notable art historians
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