Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-10
ALFRED THE GREATS JEWEL.

birmingham Post: Arrangements are
being made for producing a fac-simile of
tn celebrated Alfred Jewel which is de-
posted IN the Ashmolean Museum at OK
ford. The jewel is Of priceless value as
an historic relic. as we'll as a fine speci-
men OF artistic metal work OF the Saxon
period. Its chief interest, however,, to
most Englishmen VIII be the fact of it's
having belonged to one of the earliest
and greatest makers of England, and
that its identity is absolutely auth mite.
The following account OF the relic IS tx
en- from Garham's History of St. Neot's,'
and gives what IS known Of it's history
and preservation:
This jewel was found, 1893, at Newton
Park, some distance north of Athelnay
Abbey, in Somersetshire. near the juno
ton OF the Parrot and the Throne. .
1t is now in the Ashmolean Museum, Ok
fordThe form of this jewel is battledore
shape; the diverse is faced with an oval
plate of rock-crystal fo%ur-tenths of an
inch thick; through this is sen the minia-
ture, formed Of enamelled mosaic, the
compartments being let into cellso f gold.
The figure is that Of a man holding a
tleur-de-lys in each hand. The reverse is
a detached plate of gold dying imme-
diately on the back of the miniature), on
which .se legantly traced a ~leur-de-lys,
branching into three stems. The edge is
bevelled toward the front, and contains
the legend: X Aelfred Nee He HIT Gewyr-
can Chat is, 'Aelfred me ordered to me
w~rought'). The gem terminates in a gro
tesque figure, representing on the diverse
the head Of some sea monster, probably
(says DR.. Musgrave) a dolphin; on the
reverse, the lower jaw is wanting, it's
place being supplied by a scaly, fiat sur
face; themouth of this animal embraces
a small tube, traversed by a gold pin, ap-
parently a rivet, originally passed through
some wooden stem to which it has been
fixed and which has persisted"
Around such an interesting relic of our
early history, must necessarily nave ac-
cumulated many legends, con6ectures
and suggestions. The purpose to which
the jewel has been put has been a much
debated subject. It's appearance at first
sight suggests a pendant to a necklace
or collar, but this is out Of the question:,
as in this position the figure would be up
side down.. 1t has also been supposed
that it was used at the head of a stand
ard, and that it was carried before AL
fred's army in his successful battles with
the Danes. Other and more probable sug-
gestions are that it was the head Of q
eceptre or an on the front of a
helmet or other head-dress; both these
theories are supported by the presence of
the rivet which still passes through the
hollow mouth of the dolphin or sea mon
ster which terminates the jewel at the
narrow end, and which must ave been
inserted in order to fasten it firmly to a
staff or stem of wood or metal.
1t has been affirmed by Sir Francis Pal
grave that the MOSAIC enamel figure is Of
greater antiquity than the casket in which
it is set, and that it was probab bly, pre-
scented to King Alfred as a Die relic
in his day by Pope Marinus or some other
%potentate. The work of the mosaic, with
it's inlaid gold lines, certainly indicates a
very early period, and is unlike the Saxon
are in execution. The golden setting is
Undoubtedly Saxon work of a very high
order, and indicates much skill in design
and execution.
The character of the enamelled figure
has been much speculated upon. Some
color has been given to the theory that it
represented st. Neot by the fact that st.
Neot was known to be Alfred's spiritual
adviser and to be much venerated by him.,
and thai he continually looked to him for
guidance and protection. Some have
thought thai it was intended to represent
st. Cuthbert, and others our Savior,
though there seems no warrant for this
latter suggestion in the design or its or
namental surroundings.