_S. Victor White, of Reading, photo._]
Unquestionably the finest Late-Celtic personal ornaments are the
collars for wearing round the neck, of which, at least, two in gold and
about ten in bronze are known to exist. Being larger than any other
class of personal ornament, they naturally afford greater scope for the
display of the elaborate forms of flamboyant designs in which the art
metalworker of the period used to revel. One of the gold collars just
referred to came from Broighter, on the western shore of Lough Foyle,
near Limavady, Co. Londonderry. It was in the British Museum, but has
recently been removed to Dublin. The collar, which formed part of one
of the most valuable finds of gold ornaments yet made in Great Britain,
is unique both as regards its form and the extraordinary artistic skill
displayed in its decoration. The hoard was accidentally brought to
light in 1896 whilst ploughing a field on the farm occupied by Mr. J.
L. Gibson. We give a list of the various objects comprising the find
below.
_List of Objects in the Limavady Find of Gold Ornaments._
(1) Model of a boat, 7¾ inches long by 3 inches wide, weighing
3 ozs. 5 dwts., with benches and rowlocks for eighteen oarsmen
(nine on each side) and rowlock for steering-paddle in the
stern.
(2) Boat-fittings in miniature, consisting of fifteen oars, one
grappling-iron, three forked implements, one yard-arm, and
one small spar.
(3) Bowl, 3½ inches in diameter by 2 inches deep, weighing
1 oz. 5 dwts. 12 grs., provided with four small rings for
suspension.
(4) Two twisted necklets (one broken), the perfect one 5 inches
in diameter, weighing 3 ozs. 7 dwts. 9 grs.
(5) Two chains of plaited wire, one 1 foot 2½ inches long, weighing
2 ozs. 7 dwts., and the other 1 foot 4½ inches long, weighing
6 dwts. 12 grs.
(6) Late-Celtic collar, 7½ inches in diameter, made of a tubular
ring 1⅛ inch in diameter.