Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-08-31
ALFRED THE GREATS JEWEL.
Curious and Interesting Relic I'm the
AshmOlehn Museum at Ok
ford, England.


]
Arrangements are being made for
! producing fac-simile of the celebrated
| Alfred jewel, which is deposited in the
| Ashmolean museum at Oxford. The
| jewel is of priceless value as a historic
| relic, as well as fine specimen of artis-
tic metal work of the Saxon period. Its
/ chief interest, however, to most Eng
hshmen will be the fact of its having be-
longed to one of the earliest and great
est makers of England, and that its
identity is absolutely authentic. The
following account of the relic is taken
from Garham's History of St. Neot's,"
and gives what is known of its history
and preservation:
This jewel was found, 1893, at New
ton park, some distance north of Athel-
ney abbey, in Somersetshire, near the
junction of the Parrot and the Thone.
Ii is now in the Ashmolean
museum, Oxford. The form of this jew
el is battledore shape; the diverse is
faced with an oval plate of rock crystal
four-tenths of an inch thick; through
this is seen the miniature, formed of
enameled mosaic, the compartments
being let into cells of gold. The figure
is that of man holding fieur-de-lis in
each hand. The reverse is a detached
plate of gold dying Immediately on the
back of the miniature), on which is ele-
gantly traced a fleur-de-lis, branching
into three stems. The edge is beveled
Ia rrnv,4 urI contains tho To-
gend: * Aelfred Nee He HIT Gewyrcan'
(that is: 'Aelfred me ordered to be
wroughtO. This gem terminates in a
grotesque figure, representing on the
diverse the head of some sea monster,
probably (says DR.. MusgraveLa dol
phin; on the reverse, the lower jaw is
wanting, its place being supplied by
scaly, fat surface; the mouth of this
animal embraces a small tube, traversed
by a gold pin, apparently rivet, orig
inally passed through some wooden
stem to which it has been fixed, and
which has perished."
Around such an interesting relic of
our early history must necessarily
have accumulated many legends, con-
lectures and suggestions. The purpose
to which the jewel has been put has
been a much-debated subject. Its ap-
pearance at first sight suggests pend
ant to a necklace or collar, but this is
out Of the question, as in this position
the figure would be upside down. 1T
has also been supposed that il was used
at the head of a standard. and that it
was carried before Afred's army in his
successful battles with the Danes.
Other and more probable suggestions
are that it was the head of scepter or
an ornament on the front of helmet
or other head-dress; both these theO-
ries are supported by the presence Of
the rivet which still passes through the
hollow mouth of the dolphin or sea
monster which terminates the jewel at !
the narrow end, and which must have |
been inserted in order to fasten it firm |
" to a staff or stem of wood or metal.
1t has been affirmed by Sir Francis /
Palgrave that the MOSAIC enamel figure |
is Of greater antiquity than the casket |
in which il is set, and that it was prob |
ably presented to King Alfred as a valu- |
able relic in his day by Pope Marinus or
some other potentate. The work of the
mosaic, with its inlaid gold lines, GER
tainly indicates a very early period, and 1
is unlike the Saxon art in execution.
The golden setting is undoubtedly |
Saxon work of 4 very high order, and /
indicates much skill in design and /
execution.
The character of the cnameled figure
has been much speculated upon. Some 4
color has been given 20 the theory that \
it represented st. Neot by the fact that
St. Neot was known 10 be Alfred's spir-
itual adviser and TO be much venerated
by him, and that he continually looked
TO him for guidance and protection.
Some have thought that it was intended
10 represent ST. Cuthbert, and others
our Saviour, though there seems no war
rant for this latter suggestion in the
design or its ornamental surroundings.
(Eng.) Post.