Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/203

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. 155 single gorget of this tyj^e appears to have been discovered in England : a representation of it was given by Lysons in the Magna Britannia, History of Cornwall, p. ccxxii.; it was found near Penzance, in 1783, and closely resembles the example communicated by Mr. Hoare. The next object in interest is an unique gold armilla, dug up at Virginia, co. Cavan, in 1833, and preserved in the Piltown museum, co. Kilkenny. It is a most elabo- rate and beautiful example of corded work, weighing 1 oz. 15dwts. 6grs. With this Mr. Hoare communicated a representation of a curious gold tore- ring, of similar character to the armilla, but different in the pattern of the twist. It was found near Waterford, and Aveighs 8 dwts. 6 grs. This ring, of somewhat large size for the finger, nearly resembles the specimen found on the field of Floddon, and now in the possession of Mr. S. N. Paton, sen., represented in the Archieological Journal, vol. iii. p. 2G9. Another very interesting tore-ring, of a simi- lar type, is in the museum of Mr. Whincopp, at Wood- bridge. A gold ring, of another type, formed of wire, twisted or platted, of which Mr. Hoare has enabled us to give a figure, was purchased at Bandon by Mr. Zachariah Hawkes, and is now in his collection. It weighs 3 dwts. 17 gr. It is exceedingly desirable that a careful comparison should be made be- tween the Irish ornaments of the earlier period, and objects of similar cha- racter found in England. Of several types which occm- frequently in that country, examples have been discovered in various parts of Great Britain ; whilst all ornaments formed of the precious metals are of far greater rarity here than in Ireland. In some of these specimens of great skill in gold- smithry a resemblance has been traced by some antiquaries to works of Asiatic origin. Amongst the evidences of affinity between Irish and Oriental antiquities or usages, adduced by Col. Vallancey, in his " Collectanea de rebus Hiber- nicis," the discovery of a Chinese coin of brass or mixed metal has been recorded, of which representations may be found in those Collections, vol. iv. pi. xiv. p. 99 ; in the Description of Ireland, given in Cough's edition of Camden's Britannia, vol. iv. pi. xix. p. 232 ; and amongst the illustrations of a Memoir on Irish Antiquities by Governor Pownall, Archseologia, vol. vii. pi. xviii. p. 1G9. It was found in 1783, in a bog at Allenstown, County Meath, and was of the usual form of the Chinese monies, called cash, having the square perforation in the centre, by means of which these pieces are strung upon a leathern thong. It was supposed by Col. Val- lancey to be a talisman, inscribed with Syriac, or Tai-tar, and astronomical cliaracters. Another similar piece, however, having been communicated to him by Mr. Ardidall, reported to have been found in an Irish bog, and a third, found in Dublin, having fallen under his notice, he then observed that " there is great probability that these are Chinese medals imported to this country by our East India ships*." The occurrence of these cash in Ireland has been considered not wholly devoid of interest, in connexion with the « Cull. Ilibcrn., vol. iv. p. 101.