Tara Brooch

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The Tara Brooch is considered one of the most important extant artifacts of early Christian-era Irish Celtic art, and is housed and displayed in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

Made in about 700 AD, the brooch is composed primarily of white brass and is embellished with intricate abstract decoration (termed "Celtic knotwork") both front and back. The design, the techniques of workmanship (including filigree and inlaying) and the gold, silver, copper, amber and glass are all of high quality, and exemplify the advanced state of goldsmithing in Ireland in the seventh century.

At the end of the 19th century there was a revival of Irish culture following the discovery of treasures such as the Tara Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice.

Although the brooch is named after the Hill of Tara, seat of the mythological High Kings of Ireland, the Tara Brooch in fact has no known connection to either the Hill of Tara or the High Kings of Ireland, and was discovered in County Meath in Laytown along the seashore.