Tara Brooch

Tara Brooch

1. background

   • found in 1850
   • beside the sea at Bettystown, Co. Meath
     • near the mouth of the River Boyne

2. some sections are damaged

   • minutely detailed
   • clear impression of quality and design

3. chain attached to one side

   • suggests connection to matching brooch
     • worn on each side of chest
       • chain connecting them

4. form

   • 8.7cm diameter
   • cast in silver
     • creating a raised framework
   • front face
     • divided into panels of filigree
       • separated by amber and enamel studs
   • large area of decoration on head of pin
   • penannular brooch
     • broken circle with a pin attached to the ring
     • based on a Roman design
     • pseudo-penannular (tara brooch)
       • larger decorated areas covering up to half of the ring
         • circle has been closed

5. function

   • fasteners for cloaks or tunics
   • high status
     • probably for the personal adornment of a queen/king
   • shown on figures carved on high crosses
   • more decorative than functional

6. technique

   • main body and pin
     • cast
       • creates frames to hold decorative parts
   • filigree
     • used in most panels in front
       • separated by enamel studs
   • reverse side
     • sections cast in high relief
       • zoomorphs and spiral patterns
         • separated by enamel studs
   • parts not decorated separately are gilded
   • two silvered copper plates
     • fine spiral patterns engraved
       • on widest part of ring, on back of brooch
   • cast double head connects frame to trichinopoly chain
     • type of wire mesh made in silver, formed into chain

7. decoration

   • fantastic animals- theme
     • stylised animals appear
       • filigree sections
       • cast areas
       • on the back
       • perimeter
       • pin and chain connection
     • trichinopoly chain
       • attached to rim by intriguing series of animal heads with interlocked jaws
         • also contains two tiny human faces
           • made of moulded blue glass
     • most of the filigree is very fine
       • wrought into spiral and interlace patterns
       • centre left of brooch
         • dog design
           • body is a range of different-textured filigree strands
             • turns back on itself
               • in a pattern that tightly fits the triangular space
           • upside down when viewed from front
             • right way up for wearer looking down
           • another similar animal on head of the pin
         • could read pattern as a cross
           • animal patterns could have Christian meaning