Celtic Shield Wedding
Bands
 The
Celtic Shield collection is inspired by the Ardagh Chalice. The
chalice was discovered in September 1868, by two men digging for
potatoes near the village of Adare in County Limerick.
The Ardagh
Chalice is the finest example of Eighth century metalwork ever to
be discovered. According to the book Treasures of Early Irish Art
(Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: 1977):
"A wide range of
materials have been used to create a work of perfection. The silver
bowl, provided with handles for lifting, is linked by a gilded collar
to a conical silver foot, made more stable by a broad horizontal
flange … on the chalice, where decoration is used, it is sumptuous.
Ultimate LaTene scrolls, plain interlace, plaits and frets abound.
The techniques employed are engraving, casting, filigree, cloisonné
and enamelling. Below the horizontal band of gold filigree on the
bowl the names of the Apostles in shining metal standout in sea
of stippling."
The Ardagh Chalice is
housed at the National Museum of Ireland. The gold filigree band
that encircles the chalice is the heart of the design behind this
collection.
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