[Illustration: Fig. 142.—Irish Crozier of Bronze, Edinburgh Museum. (S.)] The _Cumdachs_ or book-cases used as covers for the books of the Gospels were also important works of the Irish goldsmith’s art. The illustration of the book-case or shrine for the cover of Molaise’s Gospels is a unique example (Fig. 140). This cumdach is made of plates of bronze, and on this foundation is riveted plates of silver with gilt patterns. In the panels may be seen rude and quaint figures or symbols of the four Evangelists, and in the centre is a cross in a circle. It dates from the first quarter of the eleventh century, and is one of the oldest of these Irish book shrines. Crosses and croziers were also made of bronze, with gold and silver inlays or relief ornamentation. The Cross of Cong, of the twelfth century, now in the museum of the Royal Irish Academy, and the croziers of Lismore (end of eleventh century) and that of Clonmacnois (Fig. 141) are the most important examples of this kind of work, the latter being a very rich example. A simpler Irish crozier in bronze (Fig. 142) is in the Edinburgh Museum. SPANISH METAL WORK. During the Arab rule in Spain metal work was an important branch of the Moorish arts. The Arab rulers had in their train many accomplished Eastern artists in metal work, and such objects as caskets, jewellery, bracelets, rings, sword and dagger handles, and scabbards. [Illustration: Fig. 143.—Sword of Boabdil, Madrid. (R.)] [Illustration: Fig. 144.—Spanish Monstrance, 1537. (S.K.M.)] The Moorish caskets are often made of wood, covered with silver or gold plates, the ornamentation being similar to that of the ivory carvings. The Arab or Saracenic metal work of Spain is executed in repoussé, or is chiselled niello work, filigree, or enamelled, and the ornament is usually mixed with the Arab laudatory inscriptions. The treasure found at Guarrazar, already noticed, shows something of the early metal work of the Spanish Visigoths. Moorish arms, such as sword sheaths and hilts, are very artistic, as may be seen in the illustration of the sword of Boabdil (Fig. 143), the last of the Moorish kings. The hilt of this sword is made of solid gold, and is enamelled in blue, white, and red. The axle is made of ivory, and is elaborately carved. Triptychs, altars, processional crosses, and other church furniture were made in Spain in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, of Gothic design. [Illustration: Fig. 145—Spanish Chalice. (R.)]