Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/329

THE ROYAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. :!75 examples of pottery, aiul other objects found near the same place, aii«l kindly hcnt l>y Mr. Mccsmi of ^^'est Tliurruck I'oi- exhibition t<j tlie Institute. May :», 1871'. Sir ,Sini!.Li> J). .S( oTT, Hart., F.S.A., in the Chair. Mr. G. T. Cl.vuiv desired to draw the attention of the meeting to the loss the Institute had experienced, since their last gathering, by the decease of Professor Westmacott. The I'rofessor had long been a member of the council, in whose deliberations lie iiad always taken an active and earnest i)art. His high attainments and his distinguished professional knowledge were combined with a lucid and agreeable manner oi' express- ing his oi)inions ; and he had «>n very many occasions rendered most excellent service to those studies which all who took an interest in the Institute were anxious to i)ri)mote. lie felt sure that the feeling of deep regret at the decease of Professor Westmacott would be general and sincere. The meeting having expressed their cordial assent to these re- marks. Mr. ("lark proceeded to give a discoinse entitled, " Some Account of Guildford Castle (printed at p. 1 of this volume). Several observations having been made hy Colonel Pinney and others in commendation of the memoir, the Chairman, in conveying the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Clark, suggested that it seemed very desirable to give the Institute the opportunity of visiting the spot that had furnished so good a subject of discourse, and that it might not be diftieult to arrange a special excursion to (iuildfoiil inuler Mr. Clark's guidance. This sug- gestion met with hearty ajiproval, and Mr. Clark cordially assented to apply upon the spot the lectui'e he had given, Mr. G. M. Atkixsox read the following, " Xotes on an Ancient Celtic Fibula, exhibited by Mr. '(Jeoghegan." "Through the kindness of my friend, Mr. A. G. 'Geoghegan, 1 have the pleasure of bringing before the notice of the members an interesting specimen of ancient Celtic art, and beg your permission to offer a few observations upon it and similar kinds of ornaments. This brooch was found about the j-ear 1801 ; but the place and name of the finder is not known. It was dug up in the neighbourhood of Omagh, co. Tyrone, Ireland. A watchmaker in Omagh bought it from a pedlar to melt up as old silver ; l)ut knowing my friend's 'failing' for anticpiities, he brought it to him to look at. Mr. 'Geoghe- gan immediately i)urchased it, and was thus fortunate in preserving this beautiful si)ccimeu of ancient art. It is composed of silver, and the ornamentation is essentially Celtic in character. The bow terminates in two serpent-heads, with extended jaws. The interlaced knots at each corner, and the raised circidar bosses with radiating lines, all belong to the mystical school of western art, and were possil)ly identified with the serpent-worship that may have prevailed in Ireland at a remote era. The size of this brooch shows it belonged to some important individual ; for one of the ancient Prelion laws declare 'that the size and value of the brooch shall indicate the rank of the wearer.' The ' Aicde Airgit ' is mentioned, and • Delge oir,' brooches of gold, having crystal inserted in them, for the sons of Kings of Erin, and brooches of silver for the king of a province or territory, but the sons of each king are to have similar l>roochcs as to material, and the ornamentation of all these should appear on tlio