THE WORLD’S DEBT TO THE IRISH 
“Besides these ornamental designs there are two 
pieces of plaited silver wire, bearing a strong re- 
semblance to Trichinopoli work.” 
Next after this marvelously beautiful chalice in 
significance in the history of Irish art and indeed of 
world art comes what is known as the brooch of 
Tara. It is interesting to note that the second most 
beautiful object after the chalice fashioned with 
supreme art to hold, according to Irish belief, the 
precious Blood of the Lord, came this great jewel 
meant to decorate their king and mark their rever- 
ence for authority. Seumas McManus in his 
volume “The Story of the Irish Race” has described 
the brooch of Tara in the following words : 
“Both the face of the brooch and the back are 
overlaid with beautiful patterns, wrought in an Irish 
filigree or formed by amber, glass and enamel. 
These patterns of which there are no less than 
seventy-six different kinds in this single article are 
wrought in such minute perfection that a powerful 
lens is needed to perceive and appreciate the won- 
derful perfection of detail. All of the many designs 
are in perfect harmony; and the beauty of the whole 
can only be realized by actual sight and study of the 
remarkable object itself.” 
The description of the Tara Brooch with its 
place in the history of such personal adornment is 
very well given by Father Power in his handbook on 
“Early Christian Art in Ireland.” He says: 
“Of non-ecclesiastical objects associated with the 
158