Find Spot record MAB46495 - MONYMUSK RELIQUARY
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Summary
The Monymusk Reliquary or Brecbannoch of St Columba.
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 6700 5100 (40m by 40m) Location only - Point |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ65SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Forglen |
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
The Monymusk Reliquary or Brecbannoch of St Columba. It was associated with the lands of Forglen. Shortly before 1211 AD it was granted to the Abbey of Arbroath, along with the Lands of Forglen, which were gifted to 'God, St Columba and to the Brecbannoch'. The ornament of the Reliquary suggests that it was made in circa 697 AD, a century after St Columba's death. More recent research suggests that the separate components may not all be contemporary, with some pieces reused. The box and lid are each carved from a solid piece of wood, and covered in thin silver (front) and bronze (sides, back and base) plates. The silver plates are decorated with faint interlacing animals, and bronze mounts on the front faces have interlace designs with settings of red enamel, some with central settings of blue glass. Each end of the casket has been furnished with a hinged socket for a strap, the hinge plate enamelled red with a semi-circular star in the centre enamelled yellow. Excluding the pins which hold it together, it survives as 41 separate pieces, but was probably made from at least 56 pieces. In 1314, the Abbot of Arbroath did service with it at Bannockburn, for it was a 'palladium' of Scotland. In 1315 it was made over to the family of Grants of Monymusk and must have returned to that place after being in the keeping of the Irvines of Drum from about 1420. It was purchased from the Grants for the NMAS in 1923.
Period Notes
Granted to Abbey of Arbroath before 1211 AD; possibly made 697 AD; at Bannockburn in 1314.
ANDERSON, J, 1880, NOTICE OF AN ANCIENT CELTIC RELIQUARY EXHIBITED TO THE SOCIETY BY SIR ARCHIBALD GRANT OF MONYMUSK. PSAS 14(1879-80) 431-5, 431-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB37.
RELIQUARY
EELES, FC, 1934, PSAS 68(1933-4) 433-8, 433-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB454.
RELIQUARY
EELES, FC, 1934, PSAS 68(1933-4) 433-8, 433-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB454.
RELIQUARY
SIMPSON, WD, 1936, T BANFF FC,JULY, 45-66, 48 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1667.
RELIQUARY
STEVENSON, RBK, 1951, SCOTLANDS ANCIENT TREASURE, 3, PL4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1817.
RELIQUARY
BLACKWELL, A, 2015, GLENMORANGIE RESEARCH PROJECT: MONYMUSK RELIQUARY, Web blog posting (Bibliographic reference). SAB3789.
Feb 14 2015 , AAS-GR-15-02-006 - 007, AAS-GR-15-02-006 - 007 (Ground Photograph). SAB20801.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- NMR Card Number: NJ65SE26;
- NRHE Numlink: 18412;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ65SE0024;
External Links (1)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/18412 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (7)
- --- SAB1667 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1936. T BANFF FC,JULY, 45-66. 48.
- --- SAB1817 Bibliographic reference: STEVENSON, RBK. 1951. SCOTLANDS ANCIENT TREASURE. Y. 3, PL4.
- --- SAB20801 Ground Photograph: Feb 14 2015 . AAS-GR-15-02-006 - 007. Digital. AAS-GR-15-02-006 - 007.
- --- SAB37 Bibliographic reference: ANDERSON, J. 1880. NOTICE OF AN ANCIENT CELTIC RELIQUARY EXHIBITED TO THE SOCIETY BY SIR ARCHIBALD GRANT OF MONYMUSK. PSAS 14(1879-80) 431-5. 431-5.
- --- SAB3789 Bibliographic reference: BLACKWELL, A. 2015. GLENMORANGIE RESEARCH PROJECT: MONYMUSK RELIQUARY. Web blog posting.
- --- SAB454 Bibliographic reference: EELES, FC. 1934. PSAS 68(1933-4) 433-8. 433-8.
- --- SAB454 Bibliographic reference: EELES, FC. 1934. PSAS 68(1933-4) 433-8. 433-8.
Finds (1)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Sep 22 2022 3:02PM
