The panels consist of silver-gilt
plates embellished with figures of saints. The sides, which
are decorated with enamelled bosses and open-work designs,
are imperfect. On the box are inscriptions in Irish, such
as the following: "Pray for Dunchad, descendant of Taccan,
of the family of Cluain, who made this"; "A blessing of
God on every soul according to its merit"; "Pray for
Donchadh, son of Brian, for the king of Ireland"; "And
for Macc Raith, descendant of Donnchad, for the king of
Cashel."[1] Other cumdachs are those in the Royal Irish
Academy for Molaise's Gospels (c. 1001-25), for Columba's
Psalter (1084), and those in Trinity College, Dublin, for
Dimma's book (1150) and for the Book of St. Moling.
There are also the cumdachs for Cairnech's Calendar and
that of Caillen; both of late date. The library of St. Gall
possesses still another silver cumdach, which is probably Irish.
[1] Stokes (M.), 92-3.
These are the earliest relics we have of what was
undoubtedly an old and established method of enshrining
books, going back as far as Patrick's time, if it be correct
that Bishop Assicus made them, or if the first case of the
Silver Shrine is as old as it is believed to be.
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