Circa 8th century AD. A fine example of a hollow cast copper-alloy house shrine cover in the form of a decorated roof-ridge similar to examples in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin; the central feature a quadrilateral projection with recessed gilt panels bearing double-contour interlace decoration on the lateral surfaces and herringbone detailing on the ends, below which on the sides quadrangular interlace panels with prominent frames; the body consisting of a hollow, flat-topped bar with lightly incised panel decoration, the bar terminating with involuted, opposed animal heads resting on the upper face, with finely moulded clenched teeth and jaws; below each terminal on both faces a subtriangular gilded panel of geometric interlace, the rising ends decorated with double rows of herringbone texturing and the upper face pierced in two places to accept an attachment; beneath are two tongue-shaped projections pierced to attach the piece to the top of the shrine.

PROVENANCE:
From the estate of a deceased collector.

LITERATURE:
Webster & Backhouse, 1991, pp.175-9; Wallace & O Floinn, 2002, pp.191 & 205-6; also cf. the Monymusk reliquary casket, Zaczek, pp. 105-6 (with excellent illustration showing the method of attaching this part to the casket)

FOOTNOTES:
Stylistically, the interlace decoration is similar to the 8th century chalice from the Ardagh hoard and the Gandersheim casket. The Monymusk reliquary, once containing a relic of St Columba, was carried into battle at Bannockburn in 1314, as a talisman.