3-011-982 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Ancient Celtic rings found in the Hebrides, 1864. 'Our Engraving represents some remarkable ancient relics, probably belonging to the early Celtic period, found lately amid some ruins in the Western Islands of Scotland. These articles, now in the possession of Mr. James Ferguson, jeweller, of Union-street, Inverness, are nine in number, and formed of pure gold. Six of them are evidently ancient finger rings...What the remaining articles are is not so apparent. The most curious of all has somewhat the shape of a modern earring, heavy and rude in the workmanship; but some antiquarians have supposed it to be one of the ancient torques or neck ornaments of our Celtic forefathers; and if it be so it will, from the rarity of specimens of the kind, prove an object of especial interest...Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are plaited of eight wires each; No. 4 is plaited of three wires, and No. 5 plaited of three wires, but not finished at the ends. No. 6 is plaited of eight wires, but has been cut, as is supposed, for the purpose of being altered in size. No. 7 seems to have been a torque, or ancient neck ornament. No. 8 is a bar, about the weight of the rings, and has very likely been cut in order to make a ring. No. 9 seems to be the end of an ingot or bar'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.