Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/494

PROPOSED EXHIBITION OF ANTIQUITIES AND WORKS OF MIDDLE AGE ART, IN THE GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION AT DUBLIN, 1853. A PROPOSITION, highly interesting to all engaged in the investigation of National Antiquities, has been originated by the noble President of the Institute, and brought by him under consideration of the Committee of the Great Industrial Exhibition, now in course of preparation at Dublin. Lord Talbot de Malahide, with the earnest desire to promote the extension of Archaeological science, and having noticed with gratification the successful effect of a combination of works of Art, in the Exhibition at Cork, has been impressed with the conviction that a collection of Irish Antiquities would form a valuable addition to the Industrial display of this year ; conducive also to many important objects connected with that enterprise. With this view, Lord Talbot addressed the chairman of the Dublin Committee ; he recommended that space should be set apart in the Exhibi- tion, not only for minor relics of antiquity, but for all objects, pictorial, plastic, or simply ornamental, which appertain to early ages of the history of the country. He proposed to include' models of peculiar and charac- teristic architectural examples, such as some of the most perfect Round Towers, Holy-cross Abbey, St. Canice, at Kilkenny, Clonmacnoise, St. Dolough's, (fee. ; also casts of sculptured and inscribed monuments, sepul- chral effigies, wayside crosses, with numerous objects scattered throughout the country, essential to the formation of a series illustrating the progressive development of Art, but of which the originals, through impracticability of removal, are not available for such a desirable object. The vestiges of early periods, hitherto regarded as almost peculiar to the sister kingdom, naturally form a feature of especial interest in the assemblage of characteristic examples contemplated by Lord Talbot : — such as Ogham inscriptions, ornaments of gold, seals of oriental porcelain, and the numerous relics assigned in Ireland to the age of Scandinavian invasions. His Lordship's project includes, however, everything which may throw light upon the Arts and Manufactures of former times ; works in the precious metals, pottery and glass, seals, arms, decorative tiles, relics of textile manufacture, and examples of skill in the manipulation of metals, so strikingly shown in the examination of Irish Antiquities. Lord Talbot suggested also to the Committee the importance of obtaining good casts of the chief types in the Museum at Copenhagen, and of numerous ancient relics found in Northern Europe, most valuable for comparison with those of the British Islands. The meeting of the British Association at Belfast, in September last, was marked by the admirable effect with which a museum of antiquities was introduced, as by no means inconsistent with the objects of physical science. To the arguments thus urged by our noble President, accompanied by the offer of his zealous personal co-operation, the Dublin Committee, as