Cumdach for the Stowe Missal, 11th centuryThe Soiscél Molaisse, 11th century
A cumdach (Old Irish pronunciation:[ˈkuṽdax], in Irish "cover"[1]) or book shrine is an elaborate ornamented metal reliquary box or case used to hold Early Medieval Irish manuscripts or relics. They are typically later than the book they contain, often by several centuries.[2] In most surviving examples the book comes from the peak age of Irish monasticism before 800, and the extant cumdachs date from after 1000, although it is clear the form dates from considerably earlier. The majority are of Irish origin, with most surviving examples held by the National Museum of Ireland (NMI).
The usual form is a design based on a cross on the main face, with use of large gems of rock crystal or other semi-precious stones, leaving the spaces between the arms of the cross for more varied decoration. Several were carried on a metal chain or leather cord, often worn off the belt, or suspended around the neck, placing them next to the heart and thus offering spiritual and perhaps medical benefits (the same was done with the St Cuthbert Gospel in a leather bag in medieval Durham). They were also used to bring healing to the sick or dying, or more formally, as witness contracts. Many had hereditary lay keepers from among the chiefly families who had formed links with monasteries.[3]
Only five early examples of cumdach survive, including those of the Book of Dimma and Book of Mulling at Trinity College Dublin, and the Cathach of St. Columba and Stowe Missal. Of the St. Molaise Shrine, only the Gospels are extant; the casing is lost, but more often the reverse is the case. Other books such as the Book of Kells, Book of Armagh and Book of Durrow are known to have once had either cumdachs or treasure bindings or both, but as they contained valuable precious metals they were a natural target for looters and thieves.
A cumdach (Old Irish pronunciation: [ˈkuṽdax], in Irish "cover") or book shrine is an elaborate ornamented metal reliquary box or case used to hold Early...
Between 1026 and 1033 the manuscript was encased within a protective cumdach (a reliquary book-shrine), which was refurbished and embellished a number...
McGroarty and who was in a state of grace) to wear the Cathach and the cumdach, or book shrine, around his neck and then walk three times sunwise around...
Crónán. In the 12th century, the manuscript was encased in a richly worked cumdach or reliquary case, which remains with it at Trinity. On one face it has...
for the Annals of Connacht and the Annals of the Four Masters. A metal cumdach (a book-shaped shrine) known as the "Shrine of Caillín" was built before...
Ireland, commissioned a silver plated cumdach, or metalwork reliquary for the book. The shrine is the earliest known cumdach, but is long since lost. It was...
monastic leaders were enshrined in a decorated metal reliquary box called a cumdach, and thereafter were probably not used as books. These were even carried...
Evangelist portraits: those of Matthew, Mark and John. Its jewelled shrine or cumdach is also preserved at Trinity College. The pocket gospel book is a distinctively...
few pages from the Gospel of John enshrined with the Stowe Missal in its cumdach or book-reliquary. There was a tradition of even smaller books, whose use...
such as the Shrine of Saint Lachtin's Arm, and portable book-shaped ("cumdachs") and house-shaped shrines for books or relics, several of which have been...
Irish Academy in Dublin, where it remains, catalogued as MS D II 3. The cumdach or reliquary case which up to this point had survived together with the...
Misach, Irish: Míosach) is an elaborately ornamented 11th-century Irish cumdach (book shrine). It originates from Clonmany, north County Donegal, and is...
of relics by the highest-ranking metalworkers was at its height. Like Cumdachs (book-shaped reliquaries) and house-shaped shrines, bell-shrines are essentially...
considerably reworked between the 13th and 15th centuries and became a cumdach or "book shrine", when its basic timber structure was reinforced and decorated...
scrolls and clay tablets in the library at Alexandria and others, and the cumdachs used by Irish monks to carry their precious manuscripts and prayer books...
Andrews, written between 1140 and 1153, notes and comments on a book-cover (cumdach) and the titles of the bishops: ...[F]rom ancient times they have been...
en prose to Philip of Cleves, c. 1500 A version of the Domnach Airgid Cumdach (book shrine) is presented by Saint Patrick to St Macartan in a mise en...
Flann's orders. Flann is credited with commissioning the earliest known cumdach, an ornamented book case, for the Book of Durrow. Early Medieval Ireland...
Matthew belonging to St. Ternan", which was enshrined in a metal case or cumdach (book shrine). The bell has an altogether more interesting story. It is...
were often cased in elaborate metal covering, with bell shrines, staffs, cumdachs (book shrines), house-shaped shrines and pieces of clothing being the most...
like the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels had them. A few Irish cumdachs or metal book-shrines or reliquaries for books have survived, which show...
Global Information
