Comerford Crown
Encyclopedia
The Comerford Crown or Ikerrin Crown is the name of a lost archaeological relic probably dating from the Bronze Age
that was in the possession of the noble Comerford Family from its discovery in 1692 in Ireland
, later removal from Ireland, and possible loss by that family while living in exile in France during the Reign of Terror
(c.1793).
The crown was an encased gold cap or crown which was discovered at the Devil’s Bit, Co Tipperary, in 1692. Joseph Comerford bought it and saved it from being melted down. Other similar antiquities (see: Golden hat
) have been discovered elsewhere in Europe and have dated from the Bronze Age.
The crown weighed about five ounces, and may have been melted down for its intrinsic value during the Reign of Terror.
The eventual fate of the crown rescued by Joseph Comerford remains a mystery. The crown appears to have survived in safe hands for long time after his death. In his Histoire d’Irlande (1758), the Abbé MacGeoghegan, described this gold crown as being in the shape of a bonnet, and added: “This curious part of antiquity was sold to Joseph Comerford and must be preserved in the Castle of Anglure
, where he had bought the estate.”
Supporting the theory the crown survived the Reign of Terror is a contributor to the Dublin Penny Journal
who in August 1832 claimed that the crown was then still preserved in the Château d’Anglure. However, Dr Czernicki, whose father bought the Chateau d’Anglure in 1832 from Monsieur Tissandier, said: “I never heard anyone speak about the piece of antiquity that you refer to."
It is therefore generally considered to have been lost and probably melted down during the French Revolution.
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
that was in the possession of the noble Comerford Family from its discovery in 1692 in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, later removal from Ireland, and possible loss by that family while living in exile in France during the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
(c.1793).
The crown was an encased gold cap or crown which was discovered at the Devil’s Bit, Co Tipperary, in 1692. Joseph Comerford bought it and saved it from being melted down. Other similar antiquities (see: Golden hat
Golden hat
Golden hats are a very specific and rare type of archaeological artefact from Bronze Age Central Europe. So far, four such objects are known...
) have been discovered elsewhere in Europe and have dated from the Bronze Age.
The crown weighed about five ounces, and may have been melted down for its intrinsic value during the Reign of Terror.
The eventual fate of the crown rescued by Joseph Comerford remains a mystery. The crown appears to have survived in safe hands for long time after his death. In his Histoire d’Irlande (1758), the Abbé MacGeoghegan, described this gold crown as being in the shape of a bonnet, and added: “This curious part of antiquity was sold to Joseph Comerford and must be preserved in the Castle of Anglure
Anglure
Anglure is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France....
, where he had bought the estate.”
Supporting the theory the crown survived the Reign of Terror is a contributor to the Dublin Penny Journal
Dublin Penny Journal
The Dublin Penny Journal was a weekly newspaper, and later series of published volumes, originating from Dublin, Ireland, between 1832 and 1836. Published each Saturday, by J. S...
who in August 1832 claimed that the crown was then still preserved in the Château d’Anglure. However, Dr Czernicki, whose father bought the Chateau d’Anglure in 1832 from Monsieur Tissandier, said: “I never heard anyone speak about the piece of antiquity that you refer to."
It is therefore generally considered to have been lost and probably melted down during the French Revolution.