The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-06-14
The O'Brien Chair-An Artistic Lee
ture on Ireland's History.

The O'Brien Chair-An Artistic Lee
ture on Ireland's History.
On Saturday last we were favored with
private view of a magnificent chair, which has
been "built' and carved out by our much re-
spected fellow citizen, Mr.. N. r. Harris, oil
las Sycamore street, for tho purpose OF pre-
senting to william Smith 0'Brien, Esq, as
small token of the esteem in which he is held
by his countrymen residing in this city.
If We are einformedrightly, and wO believe we
are, the honor of the conception, as well as the
execution Of the design, belongs to the intelli-
gent and skillful artist whose name we have
given above. Mr.. Harris, it appears, accom-
panied Mr.. o Brien in his carriage drive through
our city, on the occasion of his recent visit;
and on reaching the store of Duhme Co., Mr.
0'Brien got out to make small purchase oil
jewelry to present his daughter on his return
home, as memento of his visit to Cincinnati.
Immediately the thought flashed through the
mind of the warm hearted native Of Ireland's
metropolis, that it would be most desirable
thing for his countryncn, in Cincinnati to
present Mr.. 0'Brien himself with some memo
rial of their respect and affection. "Fired
with the thought" he returned to his workshop
after bidding the lineal descendant Of "Brien
the Brave" hearty farewell, and on one of
the walls began to sketch design of what he
has since producod-an elaborately carved chair,
in the antique style, and embelished with sym
bolic representations of much that is interest
ing in the history of the Emerald Isle.
The chair, which is constructed of black
walnut, is stained in imitation Of the ancient
oak, in its natural condition. Its dimensions
are as follows: height of seat, nineteen inches;
width of front of scat, three feet; width Of
sides of seat, two feet nine inches; height of
back from the floor to the hcighest point, seven
feet; width of back, two feet nine inches.
The front feet are terminated with lions claws;
on the centre, in front Of seat is q shield and
coat of arms of the 0'Brien family, being the
same as that of the celebrated Brien Borhoime,
(called Borhu;) on either side Of the shield is a
ribbon, on one of which is inscribed the name
| Washington" and on the other that of "Jack-
son." On the upper corner Of the right leg,
the head of Brien Borhoime, bearing the
Irish Crown upon his brow, stands out in
bold relief; and underneath is the date
l014-the year celebrated for the battle
of Clontarf whore the Irish armies obtained q
signal victory over the Danes-"those proud
nvaders"-driving 81 900 of them into the sea
But the joy of this great victory was dampcd
by the death Of the brave Brien on tho field Of
Clontarf. On the summit of the left front leg
is carved an ecclesiastical head-that on the
other side Gas just described) being monarch.
ical one-bearing mitre, ornamented with @
Cross, the symbol of Christianity. The date
underneath is 464, and refers to the periot
when christianity was first introduced into Ire
land. The back feet terminate in ornamental
scrolls. The scat is loose, or movable, one
it is spring stuffed, is covered with greer
cloth, and is embroidered with gold bullion
On this capacious cushion there is, wrought in
gold, representation of the Irish harp, encir.
cled with a band bearing the inscription
"Hope Leads the Conqueror on to Victory
But-shall we say of the harp, in the words o.
Moore?
| The harp that once thro' Tara'J halls
| The soul of music shed,
/ Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls,
| As IL that soul were fed.
4 80 sleeps the pride of former days,
| So glory'e chill is DER;
1 And hearts, that once beat high in praise,
Now feel the pulse no more.n
The back comes next under notice Rising
from the seat are to be seen the hills of Tara
where the Irish kings were wont to hold theil
court,
--"in the days of DID,
Ere her faithless sons betrayed her."
/ Immediately over the summit of Tara tho n